Development in Central Asia and the Caucasus: 15 Years After the Moscow Coup
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Fifteen years ago to the day a cadre of communist hardliners staged a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev to restore the integrity of the Soviet Union. When Boris Yeltsin climbed on top of a tank to openly defy the usurpers, it was clear that the USSR had come to an end.
The coup marked the beginning of a period of extreme turmoil, but also of hope. The fall of the Soviet Union signaled a new beginning, a break with the past and promises for the future.
On this anniversary of a turning point in the history of the world, neweurasia recalls those years of uncertainty and assesses the progress, or lack thereof, since then.
Contents
Expert Perspective
In a special guest post, neweurasia is excited to present the reflections of Dr. Johannes Linn, Brookings scholar and former Vice President of the World Bank for Europe & Central Asia.
Editorial
Vasili argues that the “peaceful” breakup of the Soviet Union was not as painless as it seemed, but the changes it brought were both inevitable and necessary.
Country Posts
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Armenia - Katy explains the 1991 coup and its significance to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, complete with testimony from those who lived through the transition.
Azerbaijan - Denise, with Marianna and Katy, recounts the other side of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, also with testimony from those who remember the coup and its aftermath.
Georgia - Vasili recounts the Georgian side of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and what it will take to make the most out of an uncertain future.
Kazakhstan - Leila has testimony from those that remember, and assesses the progress since independence (Russian).
Kyrgyzstan - Yulia remembers the coup, and asks whether fifteen years on there is really anything to celebrate.
Tajikistan - Tajik Boy recalls the fall of the Soviet Union, and the ensuing civil war that ravaged his country. On the Russian language blog, Vadim and Rahmon write on this topic as well.
Turkmenistan - Peter explains why Niyazov did not wish the changes brought by the coup, and why the changes since then have been superficial at best.
Uzbekistan - Nick discusses why the transition out of the USSR was so calm in Uzbekistan, and how Uzbeks perceived the uncertain phase in their country’s history.
Past cross-blog initiatives have included surveys of HIV/AIDS and religion in politics.
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[...] The Central Asia and Caucasus themed blog collective Neweurasia.net has an excellent special feature looking back at the Soviet breakup on its 15 year anniversary. There are posts at each country blog – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – as well as an editorial and a “special guest post” by Dr. Johannes Linn, Brookings scholar and former Vice President of the World Bank for Europe & Central Asia. No, I haven’t had time to read all of them yet. [...]