Digitalization of the Caspian region

Digitalization is becoming a crucial factor in shaping the development of the Caspian region today. In recent years, the Caspian littoral states have adopted strategic and policy documents aimed at advancing the digital sphere. This process is intensifying, transforming political and socio-economic relations within the subregion and creating new opportunities for interaction. The relevance of the study is driven by the need for a comprehensive analysis of digitalization in the Caspian region and a critical assessment of its implications. The aim of the research is to identify the key factors, directions, and consequences of the digital transformation of the subregional system of international relations. The methodological framework of the study includes historical-analytical and comparative methods, the method of socio-political analogies, and political analysis. Theoretically, the research is grounded in rational choice theory, which makes it possible to identify the factors influencing the decisions of the Caspian states to prioritize digitalization as a reflection of the region’s deeper transformations. Within the systems approach, the Caspian region is considered as an integral structure in which new linkages between states are being formed. The study also examines the impact of external environment, including the activities of extra-regional actors and the participation of the Caspian states in international organizations, as well as national regulatory frameworks in the field of digitalization and the role of international legal mechanisms governing the digital sphere. The object of the study is the processes of digitalization and its impact on the development of the Caspian region. It is demonstrated that the emerging subregional system of international relations is characterized by multiple development scenarios, presenting both new opportunities and risks. The conclusion provides an assessment of current trends in digitalization in the Caspian region and identifies the key factors determining its future trajectory. It is argued that digitalization represents a long-term trend that is already transforming the region and will continue to have a significant impact on its future development.

International relations · Politics · Transformation processes · International Maritime Law Issues · Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics · Security, Politics, and Digital Transformation

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