Globalizing Central Asia : Geopolitics and the Challenges of Economic Development

In this global era, Central Asia must be understood in both geo-economic and geopolitical terms. The region's natural resources compel the attention of rivalrous great powers and ambitious internal factions. The local regimes are caught between the need for international collaborations to valorize these riches and the need to maintain control over them in the interest of state sovereignty. Russia and China dominate the horizon, with other global players close behind; meanwhile, neighboring countries are fractious and unstable with real potential for contagion. This pathbreaking introduction to Central Asia in contemporary international economic and political context answers the needs of both academic and professional audiences and is suitable for course adoption. This Path-breaking Introduction To Central Asia In Contemporary International Economic And Political Context Answers The Needs Of Both Academic And Professional Audiences. Introduction -- Great Games And Small Games : The Strategies And Outcomes Of External Actors -- Russia In Central Asia : Old Patterns, New Challenges -- China : The Newcomer That Made A Difference -- The United States : The Too Distant, But Unavoidable Partner -- The European Union : Soft Power Or Realpolitik? -- Middle Eastern And Gulf Countries Seeking A Role In Central Asia -- Central Asia Looking East : The Search For Asian Dynamism -- The Regional Market : Economic Weaknesses And Political Blockades -- Facing Globalization : Strengths And Weaknesses Of Central Asia's Economies -- The Weight Of The Soil : The Agriculture Sector -- Hydrocarbons : At The Core Of Central Asia's International Strategies -- Mineral Wealth : Export Strategies Versus State Sovereignty -- A Driver Of Development : The Electricity Sector -- Overcoming Landlockedness : The Transport Challenge -- A Structurally Weakened Industrial Base -- The Future Of The Services Sector -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index -- About The Authors. Marlène Laruelle And Sebastien Peyrouse. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 313-331) And Index. "Central Asia, as it emerges from a political and economic system that was closed until the end of the twentieth century, is a textbook case for globalization. Its entry into the global arena must be understood not only through Central Asian states' interaction with numerous external players, but also in geo-economic terms. The region's natural resources compel the attention of rivalrous great powers and ambitious internal factions. Russia and China dominate the horizon, with other global players close behind. The local regimes are caught between the need for international collaborations to valorize their resources and the need to maintain control over them in the interest of state sovereignty. Local patterns of development thus become a key driver of external actors' involvement and shape the mechanisms by which the Central Asian states are forging a place for themselves in the globalized world"--Preliminary page