{"product_id":"2940148431886","title":"RUSSIA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE CAUCASUS","description":"The Caucasus region consists of the new\u003cbr\u003eindependent states of the Southern Caucasus (Armenia,\u003cbr\u003eAzerbaijan, Georgia) and the Russian federal region of\u003cbr\u003ethe Northern Caucasus, including war-torn Chechnya.\u003cbr\u003eIn the post-Soviet period, it has become one of the\u003cbr\u003emost volatile and potentially unstable regions in world\u003cbr\u003epolitics. Fragile state structures, a series of unresolved\u003cbr\u003eor “frozen” secessionist conflicts, and widespread\u003cbr\u003epoverty generate popular dissatisfaction and political\u003cbr\u003einstability. The region covers a major “fault line”\u003cbr\u003ebetween Christian and Islamic civilizations, and\u003cbr\u003econfessional rivalry, together with the rise of Islamic\u003cbr\u003eradicalism, have become sources of friction. Despite\u003cbr\u003ethese inherent challenges, the hydrocarbon reserves of\u003cbr\u003ethe Caspian basin also have attracted significant great\u003cbr\u003epower competitive engagement.\u003cbr\u003eThe United States and the Russian Federation\u003cbr\u003epursue assertive regional policies in the Caucasus.\u003cbr\u003eAt present, both Washington and Moscow tend to\u003cbr\u003edefine their interests in such a way as to ensure that\u003cbr\u003etheir relationship in the region will be contentious. The\u003cbr\u003equestions of access to the oil and natural gas reserves\u003cbr\u003eof the Caspian, Russia’s role in the geopolitical space\u003cbr\u003eof the former Soviet Union, the Western military role\u003cbr\u003ein the unstable regions along the Russian Federation’s\u003cbr\u003esouthern flank, and strategies for pursuing a war on\u003cbr\u003eterrorism in Inner Asia all have the potential to become\u003cbr\u003eserious apples of discord.\u003cbr\u003eA zero-sum “Great Game” for leverage in so fragile\u003cbr\u003ean area, however, is not in the best interests of either\u003cbr\u003emajor external actors or the region’s peoples. Nor does\u003cbr\u003eit accurately reflect the dynamics that could be working to redefine the U.S.-Russian relationship beyond the\u003cbr\u003eCold War. Washington and Moscow should seek to\u003cbr\u003efind a modus vivendi that will recast their regional roles\u003cbr\u003ewithin a broader framework that allows for mutually\u003cbr\u003ebeneficial cooperation in areas of joint interest as well\u003cbr\u003eas healthy competition.","brand":"ReadCycle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072667566320,"sku":"2940148431886","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940148431886_p0.jpg?v=1763702873","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940148431886","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}