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If Eurasia is the "geographical pivot of history," as Halford Mackinder proclaimed in 1904, to what extent does Central Asia constitute the axis of this super continent - the pivot of the pivot? The course examines this question through the analytical lenses of history, political economy, and geopolitics. Strategically located at the crossroads of China, Russia, India, Turkey, and Iran, the region is pulsating with great power rivalries, developmental challenges, and social tensions. Our focus will be on the external influences and domestic drivers that shape the development paths of the five states of Central Asia (CA5)” Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan”with episodic examination of neighbors in the Caucasus and Afghanistan. The region is a thriving market for hydrocarbons, minerals and agricultural products, but also a crossroads of illicit drugs, terrorist groups, and weapons. At the same time, innovative educational and civil society organizations offer hope for a new developmental path. The course examines these contradictory trajectories, their implications for regional economic and political development, and the consequences for rivalries and connectivity in Eurasia. Note: successful completion of this course fulfills the capstone requirement for second-year MAIR students. Enrollment in this class is by application, and also involves work for an external client. <a href="https://livejohnshopkins.sharepoint.com/sites/SAISInsider2/SitePages/DC-Capstones,-Professional-Skills-Courses.aspx" target="_blank">Click here for Capstone course application information</a>