A Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea: Treaties, Diaries, and Other Stories (Hardcover)

by Guive Mirfendereski (Author) "The present-day rivalry among Iran, Russia, and Turkey for influence in the Caspian region has its historical analogue in the events of 1721-1723, when Russia..." (more)
Key Phrases: continental shelf convention, superjacent waters, frontier agreements, Caspian Sea, Soviet Union, Soviet Russia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In a series of short stories that both inform and amuse, this book transports the reader to the windswept shores of the Caspian Sea and provides a provocative glimpse at the wars, reconciliations, intrigues, and betrayals that have shaped the political geography of this region since the 1720s. With the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991-1992 and the dismantling of the old Iranian-Soviet regime of the sea, the Caspian littoral faces new challenges, as the regional actors and outside players seek unprecedented opportunities to exploit the area's enormous oil and gas resources. This book explores the historical themes that inform and animate the more immediate and familiar discussions about petroleum, pipelines, and ethnic conflict in the region.

Book Description

In a series of short stories that both inform and amuse, this book transports the reader to the windswept shores of the Caspian Sea and provides a provocative glimpse at the wars, reconciliations, intrigues, and betrayals that have shaped the political geography of this region since the 1720s. With the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991-1992 and the dismantling of the old Iranian-Soviet regime of the sea, the Caspian littoral faces new challenges, as the regional actors and outside players seek unprecedented opportunities to exploit the area's enormous oil and gas resources. This book explores the historical themes that inform and animate the more immediate and familiar discussions about petroleum, pipelines, and ethnic conflict in the region.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (August 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312240058
• ISBN-13: 978-0312240059
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,184,248 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea, November 29, 2001

By	Linton Morrell (Biarritz, France) - See all my reviews

This is a good read. For those who know the Caucasus and Central Asia, it is a fascinating look at the rivalry betwwen the Tsars of Russia and the Shahs of Iran over almost three centuries. For international oilmen concerned with petroleum development in the Caspian, it is must reading. Furthermore it is timely because of the discussion of Afghanistan in the history of Iran. And finally, for those who lived and travelled in Iran, it is a return to a beautiful nostalgia that is, alas, no more.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Diplomatic History of the Caspian Sea is a must read, February 24, 2003

By	G. Glick "glick-gail2" (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This book is a gem. Eschewing the conventional historical narrative/survey approach, the author weaves a tapestry of anecdotes and vignettes tied to events and artifacts, thus creating a fascinating historical pastiche of the Caspian region. This book is a particular achievement in how it manages to reveal Iran's (Persia's) view of itself -- its role and relationships with other players in the region's power politics through the centuries. Mirfendereski, in an erudite but engaging writing style, provides not only interesting information but a nuanced glimpse into a world view.