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© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Shokri Kalehsar, US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66929-4_2
Chapter 2
Literature Review
Abstract As a functional area in the world system, the Caspian Sea is a geopolitical area that consists of five political units or neighboring countries assuming their
identity from the Caspian Sea, around which they are gathered. The natural and
human structure of the region has given it the qualities that act as an active and
effective functional unit in the regional system. Traits such as collective resources,
production, culture, and geographical location have placed the Caspian Sea at the
center of important global and regional issues. In this regard, the countries of the
Caspian Sea region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus region, are influenced
by the regional geo-culture and are challenging each other in deepening the cultural
and political ties between them.
In general, strategic interests, access to energy, and the prevention of the revival
of a Russian empire and international value policy based on the promotion of
democracy appear to be the main goals of the US regional presence both rhetorically and realistically. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia and
the Caspian Sea came to the attention of regional and superpowers. The region’s
hydrocarbon resources, along with the existence of a consumer market for manufactured goods in countries such as China, have led major powers to seek presence and
investment in the region’s economic-industrial and agricultural infrastructure. The
race to increase its presence and influence in Central Asia after the collapse of the
Soviet Union has been dubbed the “Great Game 2” by foreign policy experts.
Keywords Central Asia · Caspian Sea · Geopolitics · Energy resources · Pipeline
Literature Review
Historically, the US has concentrated on ensuring access to adequate supplies of
foreign oil to make up for shortfalls in domestic production. For the most part, such
efforts have focused on access to the Persian Gulf region, where US oil firms have
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
O. Shokri Kalehsar, US Energy Diplomacy in the Caspian Sea Basin,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66929-4_2
Chapter 2
Literature Review
Abstract As a functional area in the world system, the Caspian Sea is a geopolitical area that consists of five political units or neighboring countries assuming their
identity from the Caspian Sea, around which they are gathered. The natural and
human structure of the region has given it the qualities that act as an active and
effective functional unit in the regional system. Traits such as collective resources,
production, culture, and geographical location have placed the Caspian Sea at the
center of important global and regional issues. In this regard, the countries of the
Caspian Sea region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus region, are influenced
by the regional geo-culture and are challenging each other in deepening the cultural
and political ties between them.
In general, strategic interests, access to energy, and the prevention of the revival
of a Russian empire and international value policy based on the promotion of
democracy appear to be the main goals of the US regional presence both rhetorically and realistically. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia and
the Caspian Sea came to the attention of regional and superpowers. The region’s
hydrocarbon resources, along with the existence of a consumer market for manufactured goods in countries such as China, have led major powers to seek presence and
investment in the region’s economic-industrial and agricultural infrastructure. The
race to increase its presence and influence in Central Asia after the collapse of the
Soviet Union has been dubbed the “Great Game 2” by foreign policy experts.
Keywords Central Asia · Caspian Sea · Geopolitics · Energy resources · Pipeline
Literature Review
Historically, the US has concentrated on ensuring access to adequate supplies of
foreign oil to make up for shortfalls in domestic production. For the most part, such
efforts have focused on access to the Persian Gulf region, where US oil firms have