Geo-politics Of Migrant Remittances:Tajikistan's Dependence On Russia And Its Impact On Outside Actors

This study focuses on the Geo-politics of Migrant Remittances: Tajikistan's Dependence on Russia and Its Impact on Outside Actors.Tajikistan is very dependent on Russia for money.More than million Tajik's work in Russia.They send the money back home and which is called remittances.Tajikistan economy is very dependent on these remittances.It is very true that Tajikistan is the country most dependent on remittances.So the link between Tajikistan and remittances from Russia is very close and deep.The questions that this thesis investigates are: To what extent have remittances payments from Russia to Tajikistan conditioned the influence of outside actors in the region(primary question)and has Russia tried and/or been able to actively influence the policies of Tajikistan towards outside actors on the basis of its dependence on remittance payments from Russia(secondary question)? The argument of the thesis is that: Remittances from Russia have considerably affected Outside actors influence over Tajikistan.However that effect is not even in case of all outside actors.Where Russian interests are highly at stake,like relationship between Tajikistan and US,the influence of Russia over Tajikistan is high.But in case of other outside actors like China and Tajikistan relations,the influence of Russia is minimal.Because,Russia does not feel any threat from increased relationship between Tajikistan and China.In other words,Tajikistan's dependence on remittances has given Russia an effective tool of influence over the Tajikistan.In order to avoid Russia's unhappiness,Tajikistan is trying to be more closer to Russia.The moment Tajikistan shows reluctance to follow Russia's interests,its remittances from Russia are affected.Russia has done so by employing tactics of: restricting the entry of new workers from Tajikistan,imposing strict working permit rules and sending back Tajik workers.As result of this kind of relationship of dependence,Russia has been able and successful influencing the policies of Tajikistan towards outside actors.This research will use the economic side of Realist theory.Robert Gilpin,Stephen Walt and Kenneth Waltz,has written in details on how major powers can take economic factor as source of influence in power politics competition.In this case,remittance influence is a zero-sum game for major power influence over Tajikistan.Russia think that any influence of U.S.or E.U.will greatly harm its influence on these countries.Therefore,it has used it as effective tool to limit outside influence in Central Asia.This research is structured as a single case study,investigating the case of Russia-Tajikistan relations in the time period of 2004-2014.The thesis describes the History and Background of Tajikistan Dependence on Russian Remitteances.The thesis also investigates how that dependence on remittances from Russia has very much affected Tajikistan foreign policy.Tajikistan has given Russia an effective tool of influence over the Tajikistan.In order to avoid Russia's unhappiness,Tajikistan is trying to be more closer to Russia.The moment Tajikistan shows reluctance to follow Russia's interests,its remittances from Russia are affected.Russia has done so by employing tactics of: restricting the entry of new workers from Tajikistan,imposing strict working permit rules and sending back Tajik workers.As result of this kind of relationship of dependence,Russia has been able and successful influencing the policies of Tajikistan towards outside actors.The thesis concludes that remittances though not a direct economic assistance can also be used as a source of political influence.The case study of Tajikistan and Russia within this context provide a perfect example of understanding the interplay of economic dependence and political influence.