Cooley great games local rules

But there were other highlights: lecturing about the importance of external actors and international rankings and perceptions to a group of Turkmen civil servants at the Presidential Academy of Management and then fielding their questions about the implosion of the U.

That was a nice twist. Closer to home, I was stunned by the nasty tone of an E. At that point it hit me that Central Asia has done its own share to influence the identities and politics of the actors allegedly influencing it.

Perhaps my biggest fascination and frustration was becoming more immersed in the Chinese dimension over the last 4 years. But in general, contrasting the diplomatic styles of China and Russia in the region— one low key, always downplaying its role versus the other overtly trumpeting its long-held ties, backroom deals and soft power— has been as instructive as it is entertaining. Some policy makers definitely are receptive, but it also depends on specific bureaucratic pressures and the issue in question.

Everyone has priorities and trains need to run on time. But the Central Asian states themselves do a good job of masking their own agency by invoking alleged external pressures from Beijing and Moscow. This makes it tempting for Western officials to offer security cooperation and economic benefits, while toning down the other aspects of engagement, such as the values agenda, human rights and civil society promotion.

But, as I write in the Conclusion, this challenge of dealing with the agency of small states in multipolar settings presents a far broader challenge to U. Showing Average rating 3. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Aug 23, Caroline-getting-updates-again rated it liked it Shelves: nonfiction. So much corruption, and no end in sight. This is a very organized, well documented description of the interactions between the three powers in the title and the central Asian republics, focused on the first decade of the 21st century.

Cooley's position is that the old Great Game construct for analyzing Western moves and central Asian reactions no longer applies. Instead, after decades of Soviet rule, government by patrimony is irrevocably in place, and the elite have figured out how to mani Sigh. Instead, after decades of Soviet rule, government by patrimony is irrevocably in place, and the elite have figured out how to manipulate the three big competitors by using the international banking system and the competitors' own goals to make demands and skim off the profits.

Moreover, Russian, American and Chinese bargaining for physical bases and security forces' cooperation to fight terrorism or politically challenging elements to the south, east and in Chechnya have given Central Asian rulers the literal ammunition and cover to silence their internal opposition.

Cooley also argues that continuing the Great Game language doesn't make sense because the goals of the three big powers are now mainly compatible. Russia is after prestige and protection for its long-standing business and infrastructure connections with the region, China is after resources and a base to fight dissidents in western China, and the US wants bases to carry on its war in Afghanistan. All three have participated in the corruption explosion; Cooley presents many leaked documents.

This has cost the US any political ability or moral position from which to criticize the fixed elections or general repression. My criticism concerns a certain amount of repetition; it seems as if the case of the double crossing at Manas Air Base comes up about 50 times. Feb 18, Jesse Morrow rated it liked it. Cooley - who wrote the interesting but dull Logics of Hierarchy - claims to have discovered a paradigm for Central Asia. While researching the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Cooley noticed that the seemingly liberal internationalist structure of the organization actually assisted in the coalescence and strengthening of illiberal authoritarian regimes.

Cooley's model is just like the titl Cooley - who wrote the interesting but dull Logics of Hierarchy - claims to have discovered a paradigm for Central Asia.

Cooley's model is just like the title says. Meanwhile, each Central Asian Republic comes with its own specific system of influence peddling and graft. Cooley then goes on to describe the local graft and each of the Big Three's goals and actions within the paradigm of Great Games with Local Rules.

In it he makes clear that each of the Big Three while pursuing their specific agenda have helped propped up the authoritarian regimes in Central Asia. And from this propping up the regimes have increased their levels of graft and control of the political and economic systems of each country. He also comments on the seeming integrationist structures of Central Asia. However each turn out to be more of a spoke and wheel system that tries to connect the individual countries directly to China or Russia.

And while trade with China and Russia have increased, trade among Central Asian countries has not. While he has shown quite well how the international powers are using Central Asia for their own purposes and how well Central Asian leaders play one great power off another, I don't know if he's really found anything ground breaking here.

However, he does unravel and destroy the simplistic narrative of a New Great Game. In reality, these are still modern nations that extract maximum benefits from each of the great powers. This way there are few "losers" in Central Asia as it is not the zero sum game of original Great Game. Or to meet their bids; e. It's clear that corruption continues to play a huge role in all that happens or doesn't in the Central Asian states. And thus Kipling's "great game" across Central Asia continues Apr 21, Spencer Willardson rated it liked it Shelves: kazakhstan , international-relations , political-science.

The book is generally good. I was a bit disappointed that the premise of the three rules was really only applied selectively, and mostly as it has to do with the US. It's a pretty good book to get a general understanding of many of the political issues in the Central Asian states, but its more about the actions of great powers than the agency of the states in the region.

The takeaway point can be summarized quite shortly: patrimonial and corrupt regimes in the region have incentives to keep thin The book is generally good. Authors Affiliations are at time of print publication. Alexander Cooley, author More Less. Your current browser may not support copying via this button. Show Summary Details. Subscriber Login Email Address. Password Please enter your Password. Library Card Please enter your library card number.

Ebook This title is available as an ebook. To purchase, visit your preferred ebook provider. Oxford Scholarship Online This book is available as part of Oxford Scholarship Online - view abstracts and keywords at book and chapter level. Great Games, Local Rules The New Great Power Contest in Central Asia Alexander Cooley Highly original analysis of one of the hottest "hot spots" in world politics: Central Asia Will be of interest to any reader interested in how the US, China, and Russia contend with each other when pursuing interests in one region The pending US pullout in Afghanistan is sure to reconfigure the power dynamics of the region in Author is a dynamic and well known regional expert with government experience Highly original analysis of one of the hottest "hot spots" in world politics: Central Asia Will be of interest to any reader interested in how the US, China, and Russia contend with each other when pursuing interests in one region The pending US pullout in Afghanistan is sure to reconfigure the power dynamics of the region in Also of Interest.

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