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Turkmenistan

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Op-Ed

The "Stans" at 20

Martha Brill Olcott December 28, 2011 Real Instituto Elcano

Twenty years after the Soviet collapse, leaders of the five Central Asian republics have built functioning states but they have yet to fully implement democratic reforms, decentralize and share power, and develop strong intraregional relations.
Testimony

U.S. Policy in Central Asia: Looking Ahead

Martha Brill Olcott December 15, 2009 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

As the war in Afghanistan begins to enter a new phase, it is important to reexamine some of the premises of U.S. policy in the Central Asian region and to consider whether the conditions in the region have changed in the last decade.
Op-Ed

Central Asia: Living in Afghanistan’s Shadow

Martha Brill Olcott November 10, 2009 Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre Policy Brief

While the U.S.-led NATO operations in Afghanistan have resulted in somewhat enhanced security capacity for Central Asian countries, their long-term security challenges seem to be increasing, given the current situation in Afghanistan and the growing instability of Pakistan.
Op-Ed

Beyond Georgia: The Ripple Effects of Russia's Attack

Martha Brill Olcott August 11, 2008 New Republic

Russia’s aggressive behavior in Georgia will have implications throughout the Caspian Sea Region, forcing Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan to rethink their strategic priorities with the West. Russia has reasserted itself as the dominant player in the region and revealed how difficult it is for the U.S. to maintain a strategic position around the Caspian.
Testimony

Democracy Promotion in Central Asia: From High Expectations to Disillusionment

Martha Brill Olcott February 10, 2007

None of the five Central Asian states have fulfilled the democratic aspirations that were held by their citizens some fifteen years ago, not to mention the aspirations held by people like us, outside observers, the analysts and activists that are gathered at this meeting.
Op-Ed

After a Tyrant, What Next?

Maria Lipman December 22, 2006 The Washington Post

Although the official statement yesterday on Turkmenistan's president spoke of his "divine foresight," not even this dictator could foresee his own death or what will happen to his country afterward.
Testimony

U.S. Policy in Central Asia: Balancing Priorities (Part II)

Martha Brill Olcott April 26, 2006 Testimony Prepared for the House Committee on International Relations Hearing on the Middle East and Central Asia

The states of Central Asia are of increasing strategic importance for the U.S., yet unfortunately the opportunities that U.S. policy-makers have for influencing developments in this region are relatively circumscribed.
Op-Ed

The Post-Imperial Project

Dmitri Trenin February 15, 2006 Nezavisimaya Gazeta

A successful Russian modernization is the most reliable basis for the foreign attractiveness of the country. Volumes of energy resources as such will not make Russia a great power, energy is not the same as leadership, nor is harshness the same as effectiveness. This is precisely how a post-imperial project differs from a neo-imperial one.
Op-Ed

The Next Act in Central Asia's Transition Drama

Martha Brill Olcott April 12, 2005 The Moscow Times

What we have seen play out over the last few weeks in Kyrgyzstan is but the first scene of a lengthy drama that will dominate the Central Asian stage over the next few years. And we can only hope that in later acts, the action won't turn bloodier.
Testimony

Central Asia: Terrorism, Religious Extremisms, Regional Security

Martha Brill Olcott October 29, 2003 Carnegie

The challenge of building democratic societies in Central Asia is becoming more profound with each passing year, and unfortunately there are no easy answers to the question of how to alter this situation.

Policy Outlook

A New Direction for U.S. Policy in the Caspian Region

Martha Brill Olcott February 10, 2009

The Obama administration needs a new approach to the Caspian region that provides opportunities for local leaders to engage with the United States in economic and political development.

TV/Radio Broadcast

'The Stans' in Transition

Nikolay Petrov December 17, 2009 Worldfocus Radio

The five post-Soviet Central Asian republics—Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—share common political, cultural, and historical roots, but they are far from homogeneous, and continuing domestic and regional tensions could lead to violent conflict.

Event

The Istanbul Process Ministerial: Results and Prospects for the Future

Jawed Ludin, Frederic Grare , Martha Brill Olcott, Robert O. Blake, Timur Urazayev April 26, 2013 Almaty and Washington DC

The Istanbul Process’ Heart of Asia Ministerial Conferences can play a role in efforts to promote regional stability and security in Central and South Asia.
Event

Is Religion a Security Threat in Central Asia?

Fatima Kukeyeva , Alexey Malashenko , Martha Brill Olcott , Thomas de Waal September 9, 2011 Astana, Bishkek, Moscow, Washington, D.C.

Dialogue, education, and an accepted role for religion in society are critical to countering the possible threat that religious radicalization could pose to state security in Central Asia.
Event

Renewable Energy in Remote Communities: Helping to Address Central Asia's Social Problems

Vitaly Khinenzon, Martha Brill Olcott November 24, 2009 Washington, D.C.

The Carnegie Endowment, working with Central Asia’s Eco-Energy Alliance, launched the pilot regional project in Tajikistan to demonstrate how linking renewable energy to Internet access can be a tool for alleviating social problems.
Event

Renewable Energy in Central Asia: Creating Economic Sustainability to Solve Socio-Economic Challenges

November 10, 2009 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The development and diversification of Central Asia’s energy sector will provide more power for citizens and businesses, contribute to the region’s economic security, and give the region a firm footing in a growth industry of global importance.
Event

Kyrgyzstan's Role in Regional Security

Kadyrbek Sarbaev October 6, 2009 Washington, D.C.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Sarbaev stressed that many of the problems plaguing Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, such as security and drug trafficking, are in fact regional problems, and that multilateral negotiations and mutual concessions can help find solutions to these problems.
Event

Promoting Regional Cooperation and Development in Central Asia

March 2, 2009 Brussels, Belgium

Strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia is one of the most powerful ways to foster development and would enable the states of the region to better meet the daunting individual and collective challenges they face.
Event

Russia and Its Neighbors

Robert Legvold, James Collins February 24, 2009 Washington, D.C.

The United States must recognize that former Soviet states are and will continue to be an important focus of Russia’s foreign policy, and should take a broader regional view to its relationships with countries in Russia's sphere of influence.
Event

Turning the Page in U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Evan Feigenbaum, Martha Brill Olcott September 17, 2007 Washington, D.C.

Discussants review how to improve relations between the U.S. and Turkmenistan through economic partnerships and development aid.
Event

Turning the Page in U.S.-Turkmenistan Relations

Evan Feigenbaum, Martha Brill Olcott September 17, 2007 Worldfocus Radio

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Evan Feigenbaum elaborated on his perspective of the current state of U.S.-Turkmenistan relations and offered his thoughts on how the two countries can move forward.
Event

The Great Uncertainty: Russian-Central Asian Energy Relations

Vladimir Milov , Martha Brill Olcott June 13, 2007 Washington D.C.

Recent high-level meetings between Putin and Central Asian leaders and the conclusion of several deals that seem to give Russia more power over the latter’s oil and gas have catapulted Russian-Central Asian relations back into the spotlight, and cast them as amicable.

Event

The Istanbul Process Ministerial: Results and Prospects for the Future

Jawed Ludin, Frederic Grare , Martha Brill Olcott, Robert O. Blake, Timur Urazayev April 26, 2013 Almaty and Washington DC

The Istanbul Process’ Heart of Asia Ministerial Conferences can play a role in efforts to promote regional stability and security in Central and South Asia.
Op-Ed

The "Stans" at 20

Martha Brill Olcott December 28, 2011 Real Instituto Elcano

Twenty years after the Soviet collapse, leaders of the five Central Asian republics have built functioning states but they have yet to fully implement democratic reforms, decentralize and share power, and develop strong intraregional relations.
Event

Is Religion a Security Threat in Central Asia?

Fatima Kukeyeva , Alexey Malashenko , Martha Brill Olcott , Thomas de Waal September 9, 2011 Astana, Bishkek, Moscow, Washington, D.C.

Dialogue, education, and an accepted role for religion in society are critical to countering the possible threat that religious radicalization could pose to state security in Central Asia.
TV/Radio Broadcast

'The Stans' in Transition

Nikolay Petrov December 17, 2009 Worldfocus Radio

The five post-Soviet Central Asian republics—Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan—share common political, cultural, and historical roots, but they are far from homogeneous, and continuing domestic and regional tensions could lead to violent conflict.
Testimony

U.S. Policy in Central Asia: Looking Ahead

Martha Brill Olcott December 15, 2009 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations

As the war in Afghanistan begins to enter a new phase, it is important to reexamine some of the premises of U.S. policy in the Central Asian region and to consider whether the conditions in the region have changed in the last decade.
Event

Renewable Energy in Remote Communities: Helping to Address Central Asia's Social Problems

Vitaly Khinenzon, Martha Brill Olcott November 24, 2009 Washington, D.C.

The Carnegie Endowment, working with Central Asia’s Eco-Energy Alliance, launched the pilot regional project in Tajikistan to demonstrate how linking renewable energy to Internet access can be a tool for alleviating social problems.
Op-Ed

Central Asia: Living in Afghanistan’s Shadow

Martha Brill Olcott November 10, 2009 Norwegian Peacebuilding Centre Policy Brief

While the U.S.-led NATO operations in Afghanistan have resulted in somewhat enhanced security capacity for Central Asian countries, their long-term security challenges seem to be increasing, given the current situation in Afghanistan and the growing instability of Pakistan.
Event

Renewable Energy in Central Asia: Creating Economic Sustainability to Solve Socio-Economic Challenges

November 10, 2009 Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The development and diversification of Central Asia’s energy sector will provide more power for citizens and businesses, contribute to the region’s economic security, and give the region a firm footing in a growth industry of global importance.
Event

Kyrgyzstan's Role in Regional Security

Kadyrbek Sarbaev October 6, 2009 Washington, D.C.

Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Sarbaev stressed that many of the problems plaguing Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan, such as security and drug trafficking, are in fact regional problems, and that multilateral negotiations and mutual concessions can help find solutions to these problems.
Event

Promoting Regional Cooperation and Development in Central Asia

March 2, 2009 Brussels, Belgium

Strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia is one of the most powerful ways to foster development and would enable the states of the region to better meet the daunting individual and collective challenges they face.

Carnegie Experts on Turkmenistan

Evan A. Feigenbaum

Nonresident Senior Associate
Asia Program

Feigenbaum’s work focuses principally on China and India, geopolitics in Asia, and the role of the United States in East, Central, and South Asia. His previous positions include deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia, deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Asia, and member of the secretary of state’s policy planning staff with principal responsibility for East Asia and the Pacific.

Alexey Malashenko

Scholar in Residence
Religion, Society, and Security Program
Moscow Center

Malashenko is the co-chair of the Carnegie Moscow Center’s Religion, Society, and Security Program. He also taught at the Higher School of Economics from 2007 to 2008 and was a professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations from 2000 to 2006.

Martha Brill Olcott

Senior Associate
Russia and Eurasia Program and
Co-director
al-Farabi Carnegie Program on Central Asia

Olcott is professor emerita at Colgate University, having taught political science there from 1974 to 2002. Prior to her work at the endowment, Olcott served as a special consultant to former secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger.