The central parts of the Eurasian continent have for
millennia been a crossroads of civilisations. The northern
areas have historically been dominated by equestrian
nomads, while the cultural developments in the southern
parts has revolved around the pivotal merchant cities
that emerged along the ancient trade routes – the Silk
Road – connecting China with Rome.
With the current political borders the region may be
defined in somewhat different ways. Most definitions
include all of the five former Soviet republics in the area,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan. It is also possible – taking into account
historical and cultural commonalities as well as the
political and economic reality of today – to include
Afghanistan, Mongolia and adjacent provinces of China
and Russia. The western and northern provinces of China,
Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia have strong linguistic
and cultural links to the populations of the former Soviet
republics of Central Asia, as do some of the southern
provinces of Russian Siberia. Parts of Iran, Pakistan and
India are sometimes also included in the definition. For centuries the region was shaped by Arabic, Mongolian, Chinese and later
on mostly Persian and Turkish influences. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the influenses from present day Turkey and Iran
have increased anew.
The five countries which today comprise the core of the region had their borders drawn as republics within the Soviet Union in
the 1920s. The division was made along ethnic lines, based on the group considered dominant in each area, and every republic
was bestowed with its own titular language. After the fall of the Soviet Union the political systems have, for the most part, kept
their authoritarian nature, and in recent years most of the countries have developed in an even more authoritarian direction.
Kyrgyzstan is in some ways an exception, having experienced two revolutions since independence. However, the country still has a
long road ahead of it before stable democratic institutions can be formed. One major obstacle is the endemic corruption
prevalent in the Central Asian states.
The period since independence has been a time of national identity formation, as a conscious attempt to create strong and
independent nation-states. These ambitions unfortunately also contributed to increased tensions and competition between the
countries to the economic disadvantage of several of them. The infrastructure - transport routes as well as energy systems -
were largely constructed at a time when the countries were part of the common Soviet economy. Today important transit routes
and transports are frequently being cut off due to disagreements between the countries. So far only Kazakhstan has had a
consistently favourable economic development, built on substantial oil and gas income assisted by economic reform.
Turkmenistan also has large gas deposits, but so far there are few signs that revenues are being used in a way that stimulates the
economy or benefits the wider population. Other important export products are metals, cotton and in the case of Kazakhstan,
cereals.
From a security aspect, the region experiences the tension between great power interests. Russia and China attempt to increase
their respective influence in the region, while they also cooperate on security policy stressing their common interest in regional
stability, notably as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China’s strategy for developent of its western
regions, an important resource base and transport corridor, brings rapid economic and demographic changes. A major matter of
concern is of course developments in Afghanistan and the risk of conflict spreading to the neighbouring countries. Should, on the
other hand, Afghanistan stabilise, there will be strong incentives among the surrounding major powers (including India and
Pakistan) to strengthen commercial exchange and extend the regional infrastructure. There are therefore important reasons to
view Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia. The US, too, has important strategic interests in the region. Bases in
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are used for transports to the war effort, but there are more fundamental reasons making it likely that
the US will strive for continued presence in the region, irrespective of developments in Afghanistan, not least the ambitions of
Russia and of China in particular.
Continued economic development and increased regional cooperation could transform the countries of Central Asia from pawns in
the great power game to increasingly important actors at the strategic core of Eurasia.
Contact Eurasia Forum for information, projects and cooperation in and about Central Asia and Afghanistan.
More information
millennia been a crossroads of civilisations. The northern
areas have historically been dominated by equestrian
nomads, while the cultural developments in the southern
parts has revolved around the pivotal merchant cities
that emerged along the ancient trade routes – the Silk
Road – connecting China with Rome.
With the current political borders the region may be
defined in somewhat different ways. Most definitions
include all of the five former Soviet republics in the area,
Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan. It is also possible – taking into account
historical and cultural commonalities as well as the
political and economic reality of today – to include
Afghanistan, Mongolia and adjacent provinces of China
and Russia. The western and northern provinces of China,
Tibet, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia have strong linguistic
and cultural links to the populations of the former Soviet
republics of Central Asia, as do some of the southern
provinces of Russian Siberia. Parts of Iran, Pakistan and
India are sometimes also included in the definition. For centuries the region was shaped by Arabic, Mongolian, Chinese and later
on mostly Persian and Turkish influences. After the collapse of the Soviet Union the influenses from present day Turkey and Iran
have increased anew.
The five countries which today comprise the core of the region had their borders drawn as republics within the Soviet Union in
the 1920s. The division was made along ethnic lines, based on the group considered dominant in each area, and every republic
was bestowed with its own titular language. After the fall of the Soviet Union the political systems have, for the most part, kept
their authoritarian nature, and in recent years most of the countries have developed in an even more authoritarian direction.
Kyrgyzstan is in some ways an exception, having experienced two revolutions since independence. However, the country still has a
long road ahead of it before stable democratic institutions can be formed. One major obstacle is the endemic corruption
prevalent in the Central Asian states.
The period since independence has been a time of national identity formation, as a conscious attempt to create strong and
independent nation-states. These ambitions unfortunately also contributed to increased tensions and competition between the
countries to the economic disadvantage of several of them. The infrastructure - transport routes as well as energy systems -
were largely constructed at a time when the countries were part of the common Soviet economy. Today important transit routes
and transports are frequently being cut off due to disagreements between the countries. So far only Kazakhstan has had a
consistently favourable economic development, built on substantial oil and gas income assisted by economic reform.
Turkmenistan also has large gas deposits, but so far there are few signs that revenues are being used in a way that stimulates the
economy or benefits the wider population. Other important export products are metals, cotton and in the case of Kazakhstan,
cereals.
From a security aspect, the region experiences the tension between great power interests. Russia and China attempt to increase
their respective influence in the region, while they also cooperate on security policy stressing their common interest in regional
stability, notably as members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). China’s strategy for developent of its western
regions, an important resource base and transport corridor, brings rapid economic and demographic changes. A major matter of
concern is of course developments in Afghanistan and the risk of conflict spreading to the neighbouring countries. Should, on the
other hand, Afghanistan stabilise, there will be strong incentives among the surrounding major powers (including India and
Pakistan) to strengthen commercial exchange and extend the regional infrastructure. There are therefore important reasons to
view Afghanistan as an integral part of Central Asia. The US, too, has important strategic interests in the region. Bases in
Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are used for transports to the war effort, but there are more fundamental reasons making it likely that
the US will strive for continued presence in the region, irrespective of developments in Afghanistan, not least the ambitions of
Russia and of China in particular.
Continued economic development and increased regional cooperation could transform the countries of Central Asia from pawns in
the great power game to increasingly important actors at the strategic core of Eurasia.
Contact Eurasia Forum for information, projects and cooperation in and about Central Asia and Afghanistan.
More information