The Black Sea: The Key to Eurasian Stability?

What happens in this region matters to the rest of the world.

By
Antonia Colibasanu
-
1739
Halford Mackinder, one of the founding fathers of geopolitics, said that if the Heartland was unstable, the world was unstable. And since the Heartland encompasses virtually all of Eurasia, it’s safe to say that what happens in the Black Sea matters to the entire world. In times of peace, the Black Sea is largely stable, a region that fosters movement, trade and general prosperity among the lands it abuts, including Russia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. In times of uncertainty, it’s the key to stabilizing the region. (click to enlarge) A New Era In 2008, the Black Sea region entered into a new era. Interestingly, this was only partly because of the 2008 financial crisis, which took some time to reach a region as poorly integrated into capital markets as the Black Sea. More consequential was the Russo-Georgian War, which showed that Moscow was ready and able to defend its buffer zones. For Black Sea countries that were also members of NATO and the EU, these events hit home the need to reconsider the utility of the systems they were a part of. For countries that were part of neither, the choice between Russia and the West […]

Subscribe to Geopolitical Futures today and get:

  • Unbiased analysis of global events
  • Daily geopolitical briefing
  • Annual and long-term forecasts to help you prepare for your future
Subscription Options
Antonia Colibasanu
Antonia Colibasanu
https://geopoliticalfutures.com/author/acolibasanu/
Antonia Colibasanu is Geopolitical Futures’ Chief Operating Officer. She is responsible for overseeing all departments and marketing operations for the company. Dr. Colibasanu joined Geopolitical Futures as a senior analyst in 2016 and frequently speaks on international economics and security topics in Europe. She is also lecturer on international relations at the Romanian National University of Political Studies and Public Administration and associate professor for the Romanian National Defense University Carol I Regional Department of Defense Resources Management Studies. Prior to Geopolitical Futures, Dr. Colibasanu spent more than 10 years with Stratfor in various positions, including as partner for Europe and vice president for international marketing. Prior to joining Stratfor in 2006, Dr. Colibasanu held a variety of roles with the World Trade Center Association in Bucharest. Dr. Colibasanu holds a Doctorate in International Business and Economics from Bucharest’s Academy of Economic Studies, where her thesis focused on country risk analysis and investment decision-making processes within transnational companies. She also holds a Master’s degree in International Project Management. She is an alumna of the International Institute on Politics and Economics at Georgetown University.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR