Doomed to Cooperate?

As the sole superpower, the temptation for the United States to act unilaterally is strong. Yet, what strategy is the U.S. pursuing in a region where cooperation is necessary to achieve policy goals? Applying theories of international cooperation, this study analyzes a complicated «test case» for American foreign policy. The oil resources in the Caspian region are relevant for the U.S. objective of securing the uninterrupted flow to world markets but engagement in this region has effects on Russian security interests and relations to Iran. Violent ethnic conflicts further threaten stability in the area. Cooperation or unilateralism is thus the key question for the U.S. As unilateral action is likely to provoke massive conflicts, cooperative behavior need not necessarily be more successful.

Autorentext

The Author: Marcus Menzel, born 1973, studied Political Science and English Literature at the University of Koblenz-Landau, Campus Landau and Georgetown University. Currently, he is a German Marshall Fund-sponsored Congressional Fellow with the American Political Science Association in Washington, D.C.

Inhalt

Contents: American Foreign Policy - Theories of International Cooperation - Caspian Sea Region - Pipeline Politics - Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict.