The formation of a common cultural space as a problem of cultural security of the Caspian Sea countries

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Abstract

The Caspian Sea region is one of the strategically important spaces, attracting the attention of many countries, not only those that border it. The peculiarity of Caspian region is its polyculturalism, social variability, economic versatility. But this region is unique not only geopolitically, but also in its historical unity of states with very different cultures and mentalities. Therefore, achieving cultural security is impossible without the formation of a common mental substratum that is close to all representatives of the Caspian countries. It is impossible to create a common cultural and information space without taking into account the dynamics of peoples' identities and their increased cultural awareness. The effectiveness of Russian policy in the Caspian region, both on Russian territory and on an interstate scale, depends on the resolution of these issues. The difficulties lie in historical civilisational differences: European cultural models coexist here in close unity with traditional economic practices, so the Caspian can be seen as an 'island of juxtaposition of worlds' - 'East and West'.
Today the five independent states with access to the sea are the main actors. Nevertheless, powers such as China, Turkey, the United States and leading European countries are fighting for influence in the Caspian basin. For the Russian territory, the Caspian is the concentration of numerous major geopolitical challenges. Today Russia is faced with the need to ensure cultural security in this region. Therefore, cultural security is aimed at maintaining national security through the development of cultural identity, which is very relevant to the task of forming a common mental space in the Caspian region.