central asia
In October 2021, the Central Asia region was in the focus of the foreign press in the context of the re-election of Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Uzbekistan for a second term, the European tour of Emomali Rahmon, a new Chinese outpost in Tajikistan, and the expected “storm of crises” in Kyrgyzstan.
Alexander Cooley, professor of political science at Barnard College, director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University, in an interview for CABAR.asia spoke about the evolution of foreign policy of Central Asian countries; the problems and challenges these countries will face in the near future and why the United States should not get involved in a new competition of great powers in the region.
In September, in addition to Afghanistan, in the articles of foreign media, the countries of the region are mentioned from the point of view of economy (the scandal with the sale of Kyrgyz gold in foreign markets and the mining of cryptocurrency in Kazakhstan), authoritarian initiatives (restriction of freedom on the Internet) and, of course, not without mentioning Uzbekistan.
“A Central Asian regional identity might have been a very feasible identity project: shared language, religion, and Soviet experience—all of this could have been mobilized to build a shared identity. But, as we all know, this did not happen,” explains Helge Blakkisrud, Senior Research Fellow at Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) in an interview to CABAR.asia analytical platform.
Since early June 2021, weather forecasters in all Central Asian states report abnormal heat. According to experts, the average air temperature in the region will be increasing every year. (more…)
“It is certainly possible for Russia, China and the United States to cooperate given their shared goals in the region. But this would probably not entail a large US military presence in the region, as both China and Russia perceive this military presence in Central Asia as a threat to their own national security,” says Professor Jennifer Murtazashvili in an interview to CABAR.asia analytical platform.
Every year the water shortage will be felt more and more acutely. “First of all, this is due to irrational use of water in all five states of the region,” the experts emphasized at the CABAR.asia expert meeting dedicated to discussing this issue.
May of 2021 in Central Asia is remembered for the end of Ramadan and pardon of prisoners, trip of the presidents of two countries to Moscow, deficit of air tickets and difficult yet encouraging epidemiological situation in the region. CABAR.asia provides a brief review of the most significant events in the region that took place last month.
Every effort should be made to prevent a local border conflict from escalating into an international one, experts say.