Wednesday, 14 January 2015, from 5 to 7 PM
CACI FORUM
Falling oil prices deeply affect oil-producing countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus. In addition, sanctions against Russia impact these countries indirectly. Also, Russia's economic crisis has reduced remittances sent home to Central Asia and the Caucasus by laborers working in Russia. Taken together, these factors create new economic and political dynamics in the region.
Our forum will discuss these new dynamics and their short- and long-term implications for the countries of Central Asia and Caucasus.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014, from 5 to 7 PM (reception at 5 p.m., followed by main program at 5:30)
CACI FORUM
How do China's concerns over the Uyghurs of Xinjiang affect its strategy in Central Asia? Arguing that China's turn to land routes to the West arise from its desire to escape from US control of sea lanes, Ben Chang suggests ways in which China's approach to former Soviet parts of Central Asia may mirror its strategy in Xinjiang.
This presentation will offer insights of importance to anyone following Central Asia, China, energy, development, and western strategies in Central Asia.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014, from 5 to 7 PM
CACI FORUM
Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 12 PM to 2 PM
CACI Forum
On Nov. 4, Georgian Defense Minister Irakli Alasania was abruptly removed from office. Alasania was the leading official champion of Georgia’s “Euro-Atlantic Choice.” Appointed by the founder of the Georgian Dream coalition, tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili, Alasania was the leader of the Free Democrat Party.
The firing of Alasania is accompanied by greatly intensifying Russian pressure on Georgia. It opens a split within the coalition government and potentially marks a fundamental geopolitical shift in the Caucasus in Moscow’s favor. These events raise obvious parallels with events in Ukraine when Yanukovich abruptly turned toward Moscow. Coming in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it threatens the future of the East-West axis connecting Europe to Central Asia, which both Republican and Democratic administrations have worked hard over two decades to achieve.