The Arab Spring is likely to have little to no impact on the political situation in the countries of Central Asia and may even serve the governments there as a cautionary warning to their citizens against social upheaval and turmoil.
While Azerbaijan is unlikely to ever recognize the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh or sign a treaty with Armenia concerning the contested territory, it is also unlikely that a war will break out over the territory’s status.
The major social and economic problems that sparked the Arab Spring have not been addressed, making it likely that there will be a second round of unrest that could bring about a surge in the power of Islamic radicals or the establishment of new authoritarian regimes.
The international community should focus on pressing the Kyrgyz government to respect the basic human rights of all their citizens and emphasize the importance of equality and accountability before the law.
While the proposals put forward by President Dmitry Medvedev in a recent speech were new and original, the speech also reinforced his image as a president who makes bold statements but takes little action.
Russia and the Central Asian republics all have their own national interests. Moscow’s cooperation with Central Asia must be equitable and based on the Russia's national interests.
Russia plays an extremely important role as mediator in the current Libyan conflict. If Moscow can succeed in this role, there would be a clear positive benefit to Libya and its neighbors.
As Russians consider possible development paths for the country, one option that could be explored is the possibility of restoring the monarchy, which is a strong part of Russian historical and political traditions.
The All-Russia People’s Front, a creation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, may succeed in bringing fresh faces into Russian government, but its primary role is to reinforce Putin’s role as national leader.
Too often, debate on the relationship between Europe and Russia is driven by events—including elections, changes in leadership, and summits—which may provide important policy openings but do not always allow for thoughtful consideration of the long-term factors that shape the relationship.