Commonwealth or Empire? Russia, Central Asia and the Transcaucasus

This book analyzes Russia’s evolving foreign policy in the post-Soviet era, particularly in its “near abroad.” Dujarric and Odom examine whether Russia seeks to build a cooperative commonwealth with former Soviet republics or reassert imperial-style control over Central Asia and the Caucasus. Using historical parallels and early post-Cold War diplomatic developments, the authors lay out possible paths for regional stability—or renewed Russian expansionism.

The book is a critical resource for scholars of Eurasian geopolitics and post-Soviet transitions. It offers strategic frameworks to understand Russian behavior in its former empire and serves as a prescient lens on 21st-century confrontations, including Ukraine and the Caucasus. For anyone exploring security in Eastern Europe or energy politics in Central Asia, this book remains deeply informative.