Post-Soviet dependence with benefits? Critical geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s strategic alignment with Russia
- Author
- Karolina Kluczewska (UGent) and Kristiina Silvan
- Organization
- Project
- Abstract
- The 2022 invasion of Ukraine has stimulated a debate on Russia's relations with states which were part of the Soviet Union. Our article contributes to this discussion by focusing on Russia's two 'strategic partners', Belarus and Tajikistan, and exploring these countries' perspectives. We develop a critical geopolitics framework which accounts for time, multi-level power dynamics and culture. The article provides a new understanding of the dynamics of geopolitical knowledge beyond the West, analysing how Belarusian and Tajik political elites' decision-making towards Russia has evolved from the late Soviet period until now. While both governments appear to be dependent on Russia and, consequently, generally supportive of its politics in the global arena, the article argues that this alignment has been highly strategic. Throughout the years, Belarusian and Tajik decision makers have skilfully navigated power and economic asymmetries with Russia by using their geographical location and Russia's neo-imperial mindset to their benefit.
- Keywords
- ECONOMY, DISCOURSE, BYELARUS, POLICY, WAR
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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01J0XTESFDPN1GWPPMCG9KSXYE
- MLA
- Kluczewska, Karolina, and Kristiina Silvan. “Post-Soviet Dependence with Benefits? Critical Geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s Strategic Alignment with Russia.” GEOPOLITICS, vol. 30, no. 2, 2025, pp. 641–78, doi:10.1080/14650045.2024.2368621.
- APA
- Kluczewska, K., & Silvan, K. (2025). Post-Soviet dependence with benefits? Critical geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s strategic alignment with Russia. GEOPOLITICS, 30(2), 641–678. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2024.2368621
- Chicago author-date
- Kluczewska, Karolina, and Kristiina Silvan. 2025. “Post-Soviet Dependence with Benefits? Critical Geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s Strategic Alignment with Russia.” GEOPOLITICS 30 (2): 641–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2024.2368621.
- Chicago author-date (all authors)
- Kluczewska, Karolina, and Kristiina Silvan. 2025. “Post-Soviet Dependence with Benefits? Critical Geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s Strategic Alignment with Russia.” GEOPOLITICS 30 (2): 641–678. doi:10.1080/14650045.2024.2368621.
- Vancouver
- 1.Kluczewska K, Silvan K. Post-Soviet dependence with benefits? Critical geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s strategic alignment with Russia. GEOPOLITICS. 2025;30(2):641–78.
- IEEE
- [1]K. Kluczewska and K. Silvan, “Post-Soviet dependence with benefits? Critical geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s strategic alignment with Russia,” GEOPOLITICS, vol. 30, no. 2, pp. 641–678, 2025.
@article{01J0XTESFDPN1GWPPMCG9KSXYE,
abstract = {{The 2022 invasion of Ukraine has stimulated a debate on Russia's relations with states which were part of the Soviet Union. Our article contributes to this discussion by focusing on Russia's two 'strategic partners', Belarus and Tajikistan, and exploring these countries' perspectives. We develop a critical geopolitics framework which accounts for time, multi-level power dynamics and culture. The article provides a new understanding of the dynamics of geopolitical knowledge beyond the West, analysing how Belarusian and Tajik political elites' decision-making towards Russia has evolved from the late Soviet period until now. While both governments appear to be dependent on Russia and, consequently, generally supportive of its politics in the global arena, the article argues that this alignment has been highly strategic. Throughout the years, Belarusian and Tajik decision makers have skilfully navigated power and economic asymmetries with Russia by using their geographical location and Russia's neo-imperial mindset to their benefit.}},
author = {{Kluczewska, Karolina and Silvan, Kristiina}},
issn = {{1465-0045}},
journal = {{GEOPOLITICS}},
keywords = {{ECONOMY,DISCOURSE,BYELARUS,POLICY,WAR}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{641--678}},
title = {{Post-Soviet dependence with benefits? Critical geopolitics of Belarus’s and Tajikistan’s strategic alignment with Russia}},
url = {{http://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2024.2368621}},
volume = {{30}},
year = {{2025}},
}
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