German foreign policy in Central Asia and the Caucasus (1991-2014)
Zohreh Ghadbeigy
Abstract
The Central Asia and Caucusus region is of great importance for both the regional and the extra regional powers such as the Federal Republic of Germany because of its strategic position and rich energy resources. The power vacuum resulting from the collapse of the Soviet Union caused these powers to try to expand their influence in the newly independent states in this region. For this purpose, they applied their planned economic and security policies in order to utilize the undesirable economic, political, and security situations in the countries of the region for their own benefits. The post-Cold War conditions and the German reunification were among the factors that created a new outlook in German foreign policy. After the German reunification, the Federal German Republic attempted to follow its foreign policy goals in the framework of strengthening German organizations. Therefore, from the start of the independence of the countries in the Central Asia Caucusus region, Germany played greater attention to them, and has always tried to expand its political and economic influence in this region. The easiest way for Germany to expand its relations with the Republics in the Central Asia and Caucusus region was to follow a course that would ultimately turn these countries into stable partners for Germany through economic, political, social, and security reforms that they undertook. The present research argues that economic policies are the essential requirement for the survival of foreign policy. Germany has attained economic interests in other countries of the world through utilizing its economic tools such as commercial companies, foreign trade development, and exports, and it has thus expanded its influence in the Central Asia and Caucusus region. The main question to answer is this: what are the major components of German foreign policy in the Central Asia and Caucusus region? Study of the ultimate economic, political-security, and cultural goals and interests of Germany will help to understand the main components of its foreign policy in this region.
Keywords: German Foreign Policy, Economic Interests, Central Asia, Southern Caucusus, Neomercantilism
Allameh Tabatabaee University
Faculty of Law and Political Science
Thesise for Master Degree in Regional Studies Oriented to Central Asia and Caucasus
Topic
German Foreign Policy in Central Asia and Caucasus (1991-2014)
Supervisor
Dr. Hadi Ajili
Advisor
Dr. Alireza Koohkan
Examiner
Dr. Hossien Daheshyar
Researcher
Zohreh Ghadbeigy
February 2016
[email protected]