Infrastructure projects in the Black Sea-Caspian Sea region: Transport, finance, geopolitics

Abstract

The Black Sea-Caspian Sea region as a geopolitically-important region represents various levels of conflicting interests both of regional and extra-regional actors. Though the world is changing under the influence of globalization and regionalism, the rules of behavior and the algorithm of the actions in the geopolitical game remain unchanged - the actors weigh their interests, set goals, declare their policies, try to predict the actions of other regional players, look for necessary resources, define their priorities and preferences. Their interests may be driven by economic or political factors; they may participate in various integrative initiatives, promote diversified projects and intend to develop regional cooperation. But geopolitics remains the key factor of their choices - and in this region it is even complicated by an energy factor. Under the present circumstances of global competition for resources and their transit routes, in the situation of a multitude of interests, the authors still consider geopolitical interests as the major driving factor of current developments in the Black Sea-Caspian Sea region.