May 2004, Mary M. Matthews | The Kennan Institute (The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars)
Environmental conditions in the Caspian Sea basin are extremely poor. This resource-rich area is attracting strong international interest. The people of the region are largely disenfranchised, and yet are the most affected by the poor living conditions and prospects for economic gain from sound natural resource management. They must be included in the process of decision making to reduce the negative political implications of both resource extraction and declining living conditions. This inclusion has the potential to improve their lives and their relations with the international community through inclusion, transparency, and encouragement of self-determination.
