The interests of imperial powers in Central Asia

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Russian pressure on Central Asia
By Mikhail Alexandrov, on the CenAsia list, 3 April 1996. The rationale for Russian pressure on Central Asia. Oil and gas mafia around Chernomyrdin's Gasprom is basically opposing integration in the CIS.
Oil monopolies redivide region: Caspian peoples have a revolutionary past
By Brian Becker, Workers World, 29 October 1998. Puts the Caspian Sea area—formerly part of the Soviet Union—into historical context. The rich prize of the Caspian has led to destructive interventions except for a period of independence during Soviet era.
Study Considers Western Influence ‘Mixed’ Success
By Ben Partridge, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc., 3 August 1999. Even this capitalist propaganda agency must admit that the imperialist penetration of the Central Asian region has had limited success.
CARs not co-operating in fighting ‘terrorism’: Russia's allegation
AFP news agency, DAWN, 19 April 2001. The head of Russia's security service accuses the Central Asian countries (CARs) of a lack of co-operation in the fight against “Islamic extremism” amid fears of a spring offensive.
Torn between nationalists and islamists: Central Asia’s five fragile states
By Vicken Cheterian, Le Monde diplomatique, March 2005. At the Bratislava summit last month, experts from the United States and Russia suggested there should be a joint military base in Kyrgyzstan. Central Asia is torn between nationalism and Islamism, and a trial of strength continues there between Washington and Moscow.
Shifting balance in Central Asia
By Vladimir Radyuhin, The Hindu, 20 July 2005. The balance of power in Central Asia is tilting toward Russia for the first time since the United States established a foothold in the region after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Central Asia Between Competition and Cooperation
By Yu Bin, Foreign Policy in Focus, 4 December 2006. The fault line for the current jockeying for position in Central Asia between Washington and Beijing is not easily discernible. Instead, fluidity, uncertainty, and even outright reversal of fortunes among the major players have been the norm.