The Law & Politics of the Caspian Sea in the Twenty-First Century: The Positions and Views of Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, With Special Reference to Iran [Hardcover]

Bahman Aghai-Diba (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 158814027X | ISBN-13: 978-1588140272 | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

The Caspian Sea has been the focus of states and peoples in and out of the area for the last decade. The surrounding states are interested in getting a decent share of the lakeÂ’s resources. The industrial states are interested in taking the oil, gas and other natural wealth of the Caspian Sea to world markets as soon as possible. The populations of the littoral states, which are all ruled by undemocratic regimes, are concerned with whether their governments will retain their just rights in the Caspian Sea. They realize that the highest priority for their current rulers is to keep their grip on power, not their nationÂ’s present or future interests.

How have the respective governments in Azerbaijan, the Federation of Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and especially, Iran, thought and acted in regard to the situation of the Caspian Sea and their interests?

The issue has a special reference to Iran because it is experiencing a terrible situation in regard to the Caspian Sea due to the poor management of its foreign policy and international relations. Iran will end up with the smallest share of the Caspian Sea, whether it likes it or not. This is a serious setback for a country that once shared the Caspian Sea with the former Soviet Union. IranÂ’s mismanagement of its Caspian Sea rights is a political and diplomatic lesson in what not to do.

This book gives everyone, even those without legal or political backgrounds in this issue, an opportunity to survey the facts and history; and to analyze the legal and political realities of the present political situation of the worldÂ’s largest lake.

Editorial Reviews

Review

One of seven superb new books on Iran. --Eric Hooglund, Iran Times, Friday March 21, 2003

From the Inside Flap

Caspian Sea, the largest Lake in the world, that is also called Khazar Sea and Mazandaran Sea, is currently the point of heated discussions and contention among now five countries surrounding it, preceded only by two, namely Iran and UUSR till the early 90's. Dr. Diba has done an excellent job in 80 pages of providing not only the historical perspectives but also the cultural and econo-political perspectives and the current positions of those nations bordering this body of water as well as position statements by the US and other countries like Turkey.

One point that caught my attention was Alfred Noble's making money in oil explorations and transporting it through a wooden pipe from Baku region to the Black Sea in the 1870 circa! The remainder of nearly 100 pages is devoted to providing legal and communication documents pertinent to the dispute.

The Book albeit the reader, had benefited in a greater extent from an additional chapter that could have tackled proposing a win-win situations for all. Perhaps this might be in the works. Nevertheless, I assess the book to be of invaluable merit not only to general reader, but more significantly an effective resource citations of the backgrounds and resources dealing with the timely topic of Caspian Sea. As such, I would recommend everyone to make a modest investment to purchase this book.

-- Davood Rahni

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 182 pages
• Publisher: Ibex Pub (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158814027X
• ISBN-13: 978-1588140272
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,597,176 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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