Trans-Caspian Energy Relations in the Post-Soviet Era

In the first decade of transition, the new republics of Central Asia and the Caucuses have made significant progress in tapping the hydrocarbon reserves of the Caspian Sea. However, the ongoing legal battle over drilling rights in Caspian Sea and the numerous conflicts within the region have added to delays of effective petrochemical exploration and drilling. There are several trends in the relations of the trans-Caspian republics including fractionalization, polarization, and integration. This analysis explores these current trends in Caspian Sea relations inherited from the Soviet energy legacy