With the end of the Cold War and the retreat of Soviet power, Central
Asia and the Caucasus once again became a focal point for competition
between regional and global powers--especially as its oil and gas
reserves began to attract increasing attention. Whilst during the
nineteenth century the region was the stage for the struggle for
influence between Great Britain and Russia, this book examines Central
Asia and the Caucasus anew in the light of the new players joining a
reawakened version of Kipling's infamous 'Great Game'. Analysing
in-depth the interests of the US, China, Turkey, Iran, India, Saudi
Arabia and a revitalised Russia in the context of economic, social and
political developments in Central Asia and the Caucasus, this work
becomes a reference point and crucial reading for researchers of the
international relations, security and energy politics of this
increasingly important region.