Eurasianism and the Concept of Central Caucaso-Asia

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Eldar Ismailov and Vladimer Papava
In order to implement the idea of forming a Eurasian State, Kazakhstani
President Nursultan Nazarbaev initiated the creation of a Customs Union in
the CIS, 101 between Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
An important step in Eurasian integration was the creation, by the Customs
Union member states, of an interstate organization called the Eurasian
Economic Community (EurAsEC). It was conceived as the actual nucleus of
the new Eurasian political formation. In January 2006, Uzbekistan joined the
EurAsEC. The signing by Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Belarus in 2003
of an agreement on the organization of a Single Economic Expanse (SEE)
greatly intensified Eurasian integration. The experience of the first years
showed that several contradictions existed among the integrating states, and
those were caused primarily by the lack of correlation between their
interests. 102
There are also projects for creating a Eurasian Economic Union and Eurasian
Energy Community that encompass Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern
Europe and are aimed at turning Russia into an energy, transportation, and,
ultimately, economic hub of Eurasia. 103
In contrast to the Eurasianists’ optimism about the prospects for creating a
Eurasian State, the most serious task for Russia is not to expand but to retain
its integrity. 104 This is manifested in the problem of holding onto Siberia in
the face of the demographic slump in Russia and the corresponding trends in
China. 105
Recognizing Russia’s goal of restoring the empire, the U.S. believes its main
tasks to be the promotion of geopolitical pluralism in the region, to intensify
the modernization of societies, and to decentralize the political systems on
101 Dugin, Evraziyskaia missiia Nursultana Nazarbaeva, p. 86.
102 See, for example, Rafael Ultanbaev, “Eurasian Economic Community: Thorny Path
of Development,” Central Asia and the Caucasus, No. 2 (21) (2003), pp. 129-139; Rafael
Ultanbaev, “Eurasian Economic Community in New Integration Conditions,” Central
Asia and the Caucasus, No. 4 (40) (2006), pp. 31-40.
103 Gordon M. Hahn, “The Rebirth of Eurasianism,” The Russia Journal, No. 14, July 12-
18 (2002), .
104 Yu.V. Tikhonravov, “Khrestomatia ot geopolitiki k khronopolitike,” (http://
vasilievaa.narod.ru/gu/stat_rab/book/Geopolitika/Hrestomatia5.aspx.htm ) in: Yu.V.
Tikhonravov, Nachala geopolitiki, Ch. 5, .
105 Brzezinski, The Choice, Ch. 3.