IRAN, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA: SEMI-PERIPHERAL STRATEGIES IN CENTRAL ASIA AND THE SOUTHERN CAUCASUS
Abstract
The author discusses the semi-peripheral strategies of Iran, Turkey, and Russia in Central Asia and the Southern Caucasus, as well as their trade expansion. He establishes that the semi-periphery countries, Russia and China in particular, dominate the region’s imports. He looks at all sides of Iran’s “struggle against exploitation” strategy, analyzes its impact on individual economies, and reveals the semi-peripheral function of neo-Ottomanism from the world-systems perspective. The author’s analysis of Russia’s strategy allows him to conclude that after switching from mercantilism to integration with the leaders of the capitalist world-system, Russia can increase its semi-peripheral role and strengthen its position in the region.
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References
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The combined designed annual capacity of two gas pipelines, Korpeje-Kurdkuy and Dovletabat-Serakhs-Khangeran, is 12.5 billion cu m.
The Iranian presence in the gas market of the Southern Caucasus is fairly limited. Azerbaijan sells gas to the northwestern provinces of Iran and receives Iranian gas for Nakhchivan. Iran supplies Armenia with 400 million cu m of natural gas in exchange for electric power in a ratio of 1:3.
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Ibid., p. 41.
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Iran and especially China are prepared to pay even more for Central Asian gas, which explains the higher prices.
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