The Second Coming of the Heartland

The Second Coming of the Heartland

It’s tempting to visualize the overwhelming collective West debacle as a rocket, faster than free fall, plunging into the black void maelstrom of complete socio-political breakdown. The End of (Their) History turns out to be a fast-forward historical process bearing staggering ramifications: way more profound than mere self-appointed “elites” – via their messenger boys/girls –…

Will Christina Quinn Impose US-style Democracy on Armenia?

Will Christina Quinn Impose US-style Democracy on Armenia?

The US has made no secret of its wish to push Armenia from Russia’s sphere of influence, and in order to boost its efforts Washington plans to make some staffing changes at its embassy in Yerevan. Specifically, it intends to strengthen its core of “experienced personnel” who have already been trained in anti-Russian activities in…

Going to Samarkand

Going to Samarkand

The meeting of the SCO Ministerial Council in Tashkent this past Friday involved some very serious business. That was the key preparatory reunion previous to the SCO summit in mid-September in fabled Samarkand, where the SCO will release a much-awaited “Declaration of Samarkand”. What happened in Tashkent was predictably unreported across the collective West and…

Uzbekistan’s Claim of Foreign Involvement in Karakalpakstan Isn’t As Clear-Cut As It Seems

Uzbekistan’s Claim of Foreign Involvement in Karakalpakstan Isn’t As Clear-Cut As It Seems

There’s no contradiction between President Mirziyoyev’s assessment and the author’s. To the contrary, they’re complementary. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was quoted by his spokesman on Wednesday as saying the following about last weekend’s Karakalpakstan Crisis: “All recent events were prepared and organized not one, and not ten days, prior to taking place. These events were…

The Socio-Political (Soft Security) Dynamics of Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan Crisis

The Socio-Political (Soft Security) Dynamics of Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan Crisis

Uzbekistan’s ”Democratic Security” challenge now is to manage local and national perceptions about what transpired so as to avoid having well-intended but naïve folks misled by foreign narratives falsely alleging “unprovoked state killings of unarmed protesters” into replicating Karakalpakstan’s critical mass of protesters all throughout the country ahead of the unscheduled referendum for approving the…