Transitions in Post-Soviet Eurasia: Identity, Polity and Strategic Choices

This book discusses the ideological and historical relevance of the term ‘Eurasia’ as a concept in the global geopolitical and ethno-cultural discourse. It focuses on the contested meanings attached to the idea and traces its historical evolution and interpretations.
The volume examines the contours and characteristics of power politics in the Eurasian landscape by exploring the dynamics of the contending and competing interests that have come to occupy the region, particularly in the aftermath of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. It further examines the multiple narratives that define the sociopolitical realities of the region and also the policies of the state actors involved, by reflecting upon the multifaceted dimensions of the Eurasian issues. These include nation building strategies, identity, ethnic conflicts, security, democratization, globalization, international migration, climate change and energy extraction. The geopolitical and civilizational aspects of ‘Eurasianism’, in which Russia occupies a pivotal geopolitical place, creates both opportunities and anxieties for the other stakeholders in the region. Against this background, the book holistically analyses the developmental dimensions of the post-Soviet space and also Eurasianism as a concept and political practice in domestic, regional and global affairs.