Publisher's Synopsis
The emergence of the Caspian region as a new frontier of energy and development in the 1990s was one of the most surprising events to follow the collapse of the former Soviet Union. However, because of the "oil rush" interstate rivalry, and the hasty approaches to studying the area's potential and needs, a very lopsided understanding of the region has emerged. This book attempts to correct this deficiency. With essays by recognized experts in the region, the book offers objective, and balanced analyses of the critical issues facing the Caspian states at the beginning of the 21st century. It examines issues of population, environment, economic development, security and geopolitics, interstate rivalry, pipeline routes, oil and gas reserves, and the legal regime of the Sea. Adopting a critical and inquisitive approach, the book offers foresights into possible future directions, including promises and pitfalls that await the region as it enters the next millennium.
