Analytics
IWPR Central Asia and CABAR.asia present a policy brief themed “From Resource Extraction to Local Dissent: Understanding Environmental Protests in the Gold Mining Sector of Kyrgyzstan”. The brief was developed by Abdyrakhman Sulaimanov for the IWPR Representative Office in Central Asia and the regional analytical platform CABAR.asia.
In December, foreign analytical articles highlighted several trends and events in the region including the development of wind power projects in Kazakhstan, the precedent-setting border agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as the experiences of individuals who were subjected to forced labor in Uzbekistan’s cotton fields and the ways Central Asia can promote collective regional identity. (more…)
In this review, we reflect on the tumultuous yet diplomatically active year of 2023, a period marked by heightened global interest and a flurry of significant agreements and initiatives in Central Asia. As we pivot to 2024, a year potentially less auspicious on the global stage, we anticipate a shift in focus towards the domestic policy priorities of world powers. This recalibration, however, comes with its own set of challenges, given the longstanding unresolved issues in Central Asia. While a temporary lull in international conflicts might offer a reprieve, nations in the region must remain alert and strategically prepare for emerging hurdles. The effective management of internal affairs will be pivotal in ensuring continued peace and stability across the region.
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In a strategic move set to redefine the Eurasian logistics landscape, two major international transport corridors are emerging as key conduits between the European Union and China. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, traverses Kazakhstan, while the Southern Corridor cuts through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Each route boasts distinct technical and investment profiles, with varying potentials for growth and development. Traditionally seen as rivals in the competitive sphere of international trade, these corridors are now the focus of a comprehensive analysis. This paper delves into the dynamics of corridor management, examining factors such as public-institutional support, the maturity of development programmes, and the legal frameworks governing these routes. The aim is to ascertain the true extent of competition and potential synergy between these critical Eurasian trade arteries.
In November, foreign analytical articles underscored several noteworthy developments in the region. These encompassed a rise in international engagement of the region’s countries, human rights violations, migrants’ problems, and several top-level meetings that were held in the region last month. (more…)
The transport and infrastructure initiatives of China and the European Union show signs of unfolding strategic competition in the Eurasian region. With Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Europe and China have lost their shortest land trade route, while the importance of the Middle Corridor has increased. Currently, the parties are interested in establishing sustainable trade routes through Central Asia and the South Caucasus, but the tone of recent statements points to the need for constructive dialogue.
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On 30 November 2023, the annual Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention (UNFCCC) on Climate Change begins in the United Arab Emirates. Central Asia, as a region vulnerable to the effects of climate change, should actively participate in these global climate policy negotiations. The main focus of the region should be to jointly promote commitments to reduce emissions, achieve carbon neutrality, and the region’s access to climate finance. However, countries need to build capacity to realise climate pledges and restructure institutional arrangements for the transition to a green economy. (more…)
The “Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan Gas Union” stands at a pivotal crossroads, symbolizing a significant shift in Central Asian energy dynamics. Initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin, this trilateral alliance aims to transport Russian gas to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan, marking a historical moment as it is the first time Russian gas is pumped toward Central Asia. However, the union faces scrutiny and cautious participation from Uzbekistan, reflecting the complex geopolitical and economic implications of this energy project. This development, arising amidst acute energy challenges in the region, seeks to address immediate needs but also poses long-term geopolitical and economic questions for the involved nations. (more…)
Following the leadership transition in 2016, Uzbekistan’s foreign policy has undergone a significant shift towards increased regionalism, with a strong focus on enhancing economic cooperation with Central Asian countries. The new leadership has mended strained bilateral relations through a two-step process: firstly, by addressing sensitive issues such as water resource management and border delimitation and demarcation, which had previously strained relations, and secondly, by emphasising the deepening of economic cooperation in the spheres such as mutual trade, investment, tourism both regionally and bilaterally. This paper discusses Uzbekistan’s regional economic activity with Central Asian countries after the leadership transition.
The October analytical pieces in foreign press focused on the devastating accident at an ArcelorMittal mine in Kazakhstan, another controversial law in Kyrgyzstan, repressive tactics in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, power struggles in Turkmenistan, and Russia’s gas shipments in Uzbekistan. (more…)