A Framework for Unfreezing Eurasia's Conflicts
Aug 2005, Vol. 150, No. 4
By Stephen Blank
For many years there has been little hope of unfreezing Eurasia’s conflicts from Moldova to Nagorno-Karabakh. Many factors have worked together to reinforce this pessimism. Russian opposition and support for the protostates that emerged from these conflicts; relative or actual Western disinterest; state weakness in Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which could not reform themselves or generate resources needed to transform the status quo or summon sufficient will to engage in genuine regional security co-operation; the development of local post-war economies that perpetuated the interest, wealth and power of criminalized elites who benefited from the new status quo; can all be adduced as reasons for this lack of progress. However, today significant opportunities for positive action to resolve regional conflicts exist, if only the political will is there.
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By Stephen Blank
For many years there has been little hope of unfreezing Eurasia’s conflicts from Moldova to Nagorno-Karabakh. Many factors have worked together to reinforce this pessimism. Russian opposition and support for the protostates that emerged from these conflicts; relative or actual Western disinterest; state weakness in Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which could not reform themselves or generate resources needed to transform the status quo or summon sufficient will to engage in genuine regional security co-operation; the development of local post-war economies that perpetuated the interest, wealth and power of criminalized elites who benefited from the new status quo; can all be adduced as reasons for this lack of progress. However, today significant opportunities for positive action to resolve regional conflicts exist, if only the political will is there.
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