Ch. 7 - The Silk Road and the Great Game
Ch. 8 - The Russia that Was
Ch. 9 - Tibet and Xinjiang: The New Bamboo Curtain
Ch.10 - Kazakhstan: "Happiness is Multiple Pipelines"
Ch. 11 - Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan: Sovereign of Everything, Master of Nothing
Ch. 12 - Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: Men Behaving Badly
Ch. 13 - Afghanistan and Pakistan: Taming South-Central Asia
Conclusion: A Change of Heart
Map of Eurasia (Siberia and the Far East is in Russia (yellow)) - from http://media.photobucket.com/image/eurasia%20map%20and%20far%20east/gaygaygay-9/asia-map.gif
European Union
This part, mainly about the extension of power of China, actually brings to mind many inadequacies about the other superpowers: EU and America. The European Union, though praised in previous chapter displayed many inadequacies when dealing with the countries in the section of the novel. It seems as if they have too many rules that each country must comply to before they can join the EU. In countries with oligarchies that control its economy, as severe as those in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan it is difficult for these countries to comply with EU eligibility requirements. No matter how much that country wants to be part of the EU and get with EU incentives, each country is run be a person, and that person's number one priority is himself, and his power within the country. It is true that these oil-rich countries need foreign assistance to extract its oil, but there is not only one superpower ready to help.
As I was reading this section, an experience came back to mind. I was actively in Model United Nations throughout high school and I think decision making in the EU must be similar. During the simulation, resolutions were formulated, each country can have their say in the policies up for discussion, and then there is a vote at the end. In the entire day, many ten to fifteen resolutions can be acknowledge out of maybe fifty that the countries have prepared. At the end of the day, less than three of these resolutions would actually be passed in an assembly, and then these resolutions would have to have to be brought into the General Assembly for approval. This process is extremely inefficient and even if the resolution is passed, there is no guarantee that proper steps will be taken. In the case of the EU, it is unlike the other two superpowers because it cannot make decisions on its own, it needs the collaboration of the nations within it. Now, it is good if the nations have similar opinions, but as the EU expands, there will be plenty of diversification within it and a consensus on policies will be similar to that of the UN. The EU wants to extend its sphere of influence into the Heartland, but doing so will cause internal turmoil.
From I think in the case of the Heartland, EU will put money into these places to try to improve its infrastructure and poverty because it doesn't want to be completely shut out of its rich oil reserves. For example, p.87 talks about how Kazahstan, rich in oil, cannot be bribed into accepting Western military bases because this would undermine its relation with its Russian and Chinese borders. With so may countries vying for resource-security with these Stans, like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, they can play NATO and the SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) to get what they want.
America
America's biggest problem is that it thinks that everyone else's problem is also theirs. As a former Uzbek official puts it, "Western strategy should change from labeling a leader 'our son of a bitch' to just plain 'son of a bitch' "(p.104) Because the Stans have so many options as to which sphere of influence they want to be in, why would they pick a superpower that dictates what type of government it should have? These nations only want financial support, not governmental support.
However, the US and EU serve a very important purpose in this area of the world. For example, "When CNPC purchased PetroKazakhstan significantly about market value in 2005, the United States and Russia sided with the Kazakh government's decision to declare the firm a strategic asset, reallocate its refining and production segments, and delay its sale" (p.88). *PetroKazakhstan is actually a Calgary company based in Kazakhstan and China finally bought it for $4.2 billion dollars - for more information, please go to http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503EED9113FF934A15753C1A9639C8B63*
For a good video, please refer to http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_4170000/newsid_4174200/4174242.stm?bw=nb&mp=rm&news=1&ms3=4&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=2
Therefore, without the US and the EU being there, China would buy all it can, and take control of the Heartland.
China
China is the big player in this region. It has an advantage, unlike the other superpowers: its geopolitics. China borders Siberia, Far East, Mongolia, XinJiang, and Tibet. Because there is such a low population in these areas, it is easy for the Chinese to move in and begin their own businesses, using their resources.
From http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/gfo/lowres/gfon405l.jpg
In Mongolia, the mines are worked by Chinese labourers, and the mining counts for 70% of the country's exports (p.73). When the Chinese begin to move into the place, they bring with them their industry, bringing development and modernity to the land. The "Tibetans and the Turkic, Muslim Uyghurs are being lifted out of the third world" (p.80). China gave them roads, telephone lines, hospitals, jobs, and increased educational standards promoting basic education. Because these areas are so sparse, it is hard for them to control the degree of Chineseness. For example, in Siberia, Russia pretty much isolated them and provided no leadership. This, of course, made it easy for China to sneak in for its oil deposits. The same goes for the Far East. Since Russia provided them with no support, China actually developed the land in ways that Russia hadn't, and occupying it in the process (p.73). Although the SCO is a venture with both China and Russia, China has taken the lead and Russia is falling behind.
China is the perfect country for the nations in this part to ally with. It doesn't care about the politics of that area, whether it is corrupt like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, or with Taliban, like the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. China just wants trade and access to raw materials, oil and water. Although this may not lead to stability in these areas and the population within these countries may still suffer, China is extending its sphere of influence by having a sort of hands-off policy. They don't try to infringe upon each country's sovereignty. This, I think, it China's biggest success.
Summary
China is winning in the Heartland and the West's influence will continue to loose relevance. This is because of "China's remarkable ability to shape both infrastructure and markets through shrewd diplomacy"(p.116).
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