This groundbreaking edited volume offers fresh perspectives on one of the world's most dynamic and strategically vital regions. Born from an innovative series of six international workshops spanning four years and three countries, this monograph brings together leading scholars and practitioners to examine the evolving relationships between the South Caucasus, Central Asia, and major external actors including the European Union, the United States, and China. From its origins in Groningen in 2022—exploring the EU's role in what has traditionally been considered China’s and Russia’s sphere of influence—to workshops in Baku and Astana, this collaborative project has steadily expanded its analytical scope. The volume captures critical transformations in EU–Central Asia relations, tracing the evolution from the Eastern Partnership to contemporary Central Asia policy, while addressing pressing contemporary issues: connectivity initiatives, critical raw materials, transport corridors, and the region's emerging geopolitical and geoeconomic significance. As the second major publication emerging from this sustained academic network, the volume builds upon the foundation established by European Union Governance in Central Asia: A Structural Approach (Neuman & Bayramov, 2024). However, it ventures into new territory, examining how the Caspian Sea region is becoming increasingly central to global supply chains, energy security, and great power competition. Drawing on rigorous research, field insights, and extensive peer collaboration, contributors analyze how Central Asian states are navigating complex relationships with multiple external powers while asserting their own agency. This volume is essential reading for scholars, policymakers, and analysts seeking to understand the region's pivotal role in shaping 21st century international relations, resource politics, and transcontinental connectivity.
