Product Description

The Caspian Region, lying south of Russia, west of China and north of Afghanistan, contains the world's largest untapped oil and gas resources. In the years between the death of the Soviet Union and September 11, 2001, oil companies and politicians have struggled to possess and develop these resources. Using a concept immortalised by Kipling in his novel Kim, Lutz Kleveman argues that there is now a new 'Great Game' in the region, in which the US, Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Iran - most of which are nuclear powers - are competing.. Kleveman has produced an insightful and exacting portrait of a new theatre of war, a region in which there are few rules and in which the rewards for victory are nothing less than power and prosperity in the new century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29406 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-12
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 296 pages

Review
"'Travelling with some danger to himself and marshalling the political and historical facts with authority, Kleveman [produces] a coherent study of a notoriously complex and unpredictable region, much of which is torn by terrible violence and civil wars.' Patrick French, Sunday Times 'A timely, panoramic book examin[ing] the consequences of the presence of enormous quantities of fossil fuels in one of the world's most inaccessible and unstable regions.' Andy Beckett, The Guardian; 'Kleveman brim[s] with ingenuity... His reportage is first-class and his findings truly enlightening.' Hazhir Teimourian, Literary Review"

About the Author
Lutz Kleveman was born in Germany and studied at the London School of Economics. Bilingual in English and German, he has reported for the Daily Telegraph, Newsweek, Sunday Telegraph, as well as German magazines and newspapers and CNN and ZDF. He works as a freelance journalist based in New York.

Customer Reviews

Where am I?
I decided to look for other Kleveman titles having enjoyed this one so much when I came across your previous reviewer's comments. I have to agree as I did indeed read it with my atlas by my side!

I've only knocked off a single star for the lack of maps as I wouldn't want to discourage people from picking up this even handed and informative review of foreign policy in the Near East.

Another book in the pipe-line maybe?
This is a good primer for the political situation in the Caspian area It should be essential reading for the numerous expats involved in the oil industry in the country's mentioned, but it is written in such a way that anyone can enjoy the revelations Kleveman has put to paper.

The book is well structured, each country is dealt with as a seperate chapter but it interlocks to tell the story of the whole area.

My only negative comment is that some of his research has likely been compiled over a few beers in the expat bars that litter the Caspian oil towns. Some of the stories Kleveman has mentioned, especially in Kazakhstan are rather far fetched (I have worked in Kazakhstan for the last seven years) and have undoubtedly been exaggerated by some degree by the subjects Kleveman interviewed. The oil industry expat's ability to spin stories is as widespread as the corruption.

The chapter on Turkmenistan was excellent, a real eye-opener to this unusual country. Kleveman's coverage of the 'pipe-line' poilitics throughout the book deserve special mention as well.

The book is slightly dated now, there have been a number of events, eg. the uprising in Uzbekistan that have left the book back in the past. Hopefully Kleveman will pack his back-pack again and complete another circuit to produce an updated version, if he does I will certainly be buying it.

Oil & Politics in the Caspian
A fascinating read, I work for a oil company in Kazakhstan which is mentioned in the book and found the political insight absolutely amazing. I recommend this to all who either are working in the region or who are interested in the politics of the Caspian and beyond.