Tensions and Conflicts

The collapse of the Soviet Union did not simply create fifteen new countries — it unleashed a wave of tensions and conflicts across the former Soviet space. Most of the former Soviet republics are prone to conflicts, and many have experienced civil wars and insurgencies. The picture is further complicated by the growing involvement of outside powers, each pursuing its own strategic and economic interests.

Secessionist Movements in Russia

Within Russia itself, two republics — Chechnya and Dagestan — have had violent secessionist movements. Moscow’s method of dealing with the Chechen rebels involved indiscriminate military bombings. This approach led to many human rights violations but failed to deter the aspirations for independence. The conflict in Chechnya remains one of the most brutal legacies of the post-Soviet period.

Civil War and Sectarian Conflict in Central Asia

In Central Asia, Tajikistan witnessed a civil war that went on for ten years, until 2001. The region as a whole has many sectarian conflicts. These internal divisions have made the transition to independent statehood extremely difficult.

Territorial Disputes in the Caucasus

• In Azerbaijan’s province of Nagorno-Karabakh, local Armenians want to secede and join Armenia. This dispute has led to repeated armed clashes.
• In Georgia, the demand for independence has come from two provinces, resulting in a civil war. Georgia’s territorial integrity has been challenged since the early 1990s.

Political Instability and Resource Conflicts

There are movements against the existing regimes in Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia. Countries and provinces are also fighting over river waters. All this has led to widespread instability, making life difficult for the ordinary citizen.

The Geopolitics of Central Asia’s Hydrocarbons

The Central Asian Republics are areas with vast hydrocarbon resources, which have brought them economic benefit. However, Central Asia has also become a zone of competition between outside powers and oil companies. The region is strategically located next to Russia, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and close to West Asia.

After 11 September 2001, the US wanted military bases in the region and paid the governments of all Central Asian states to hire bases and to allow airplanes to fly over their territory during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, Russia perceives these states as its ‘Near Abroad’ and believes that they should be under Russian influence. China has interests here because of the oil resources, and the Chinese have begun to settle around the borders and conduct trade.

The Breakup of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia

In eastern Europe, the picture was mixed. Czechoslovakia split peacefully into two, with the Czechs and the Slovaks forming independent countries. But the most severe conflict took place in the Balkan republics of Yugoslavia. …