This book evaluates Central Asian regionalism by analyzing the impact of Russia and China on physical infrastructure in the region. The narrative builds a picture of the nature of the two powers’ influence on the development of regional connectivity in Central Asia. The study covers the 30-year period since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, with a focus on the last decade preceding the global pandemic. Qualitative research methods, i.e., documentary analysis, media analysis, and elite interviews, are implemented to explore how activities of Russia and China impact regional cooperation among Central Asian states. Multiple case studies of projects in the networked sectors of infrastructure, i.e., transportation, energy, and telecommunications, are used to build the argument and demonstrate the ways in which Russia’s and China’s engagement influence regional connectivity. The book is of interest to the scholars who study international relations in Eurasia, major power relations, Sino-Russian relations, China foreign policy, international institutions in Asia, multilateralism, and regionalism. The empirical depth of the book attracts attention of area studies scholars who focus on Central Asia, Central Eurasia, and any of the five Central Asian states. Additionally, the scholars who analyze the roles of hard infrastructure find the book particularly important. The in-depth cases on multilateral financial institutions and regional networks, particularly energy, transportation, and telecommunication, are of great value to those interested in these respective sectors.
Author(s): Peter Krasnopolsky
Series: Palgrave Series in Asia and Pacific Studies
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 357
City: Singapore
Acknowledgments
Praise for China, Russia and Central Asian Infrastructure
Contents
Abbreviations
List of Maps
List of Tables
1 Introduction
Building Organizations Not Cooperation
Railroad—Not Silk Road
China Looking Westward
Central Asia Through Various Lenses
Chapter Outline
Notes
Bibliography
2 Central Asia as a Region
Which Region? Central Asia vs. Central Eurasia
Implications from Security, Identity and Interdependence on the Central Asian Region
Constraints to Regional Cooperation
Analyzing Central Asian Regionalism
Obdurate Infrastructure
Institution of Sovereignty
Reconstructing Interests
Voluntary Transformation of Identities
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
3 Multilateral Organizations as a Questionable Reflection of Regionalism
‘Home-Grown’ Regional Organizations
The CIS—The Initial Form of Post-Soviet Regionalism
Eurasian Integration: Narrowing Down the Region
The Eurasian Economic Community and the Eurasian Economic Union—Toward ‘Harder’ Regionalism
Defined by Interests, But Not Always Serving Them
Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Serving Various Goals
‘Functionalism Upside Down’
Chinese Style of Regionalism
Dynamics Defined by the Two Major Powers
The Challenge of Institutional Regionalism
Mutual Interests: Security and Regime Stability
Infrastructure Development
Trade and Economic Cooperation
Energy
Limitations of Institutions
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
4 No Loans—No Roads: Multilateral Financial Institutions and Their Effect on Regionalism
Background
SCO-Based Initiatives
The SCO Interbank Association—Slow Steps in the Cooperative Direction
The SCO Finance Banking Association—“SCO” Only in Name
SCO Development Bank—A Failed Compromise
Intermediate Conclusion
New Institutions and ‘New Silk Road’
Wide Scope and High Ambitions
Sino-Russian Dissonance
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
5 Not All Roads Lead to Moscow: Transportation Routes and Their Twofold Effect on Regional Cooperation in Central Asia
Reducing Non-physical Barriers Through Multilateral Initiatives
The Economic Cooperation Organization—South of the Pamir, West of the Caspian
From Europe to Asia Bypassing Russia
From Asia to Europe with Central Asia in the “Center”
The SCO and Non-physical Barriers
Intermediate Conclusion
Financing Physical Infrastructure: Varying Engagement—Various Results
Russia’s Limited Role
Multiple Effects of China’s Engagement
China’s Engagement: Build the Road—Disconnect the Neighbors
China’s Engagement: National Infrastructure or Regional Infrastructure
China’s Engagement: New “Silk Road” Through Kazakhstan Only
China’s Engagement and the “Russian Factor”: Crossing Kyrgyzstan: South-North—Go; East-West—No Go
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
6 Trading Places in Central Asia: The “Shift” in the Nature of Russian and Chinese Engagement and Its Effects on Regional Cooperation in the Energy Field
Water and Electricity
Regional Potential
Limited Impact of Regional Institutions: Eurasian Development Bank as a Weak Instrument of Eurasian Integration
Limited Impact of Regional Institutions: Sensitivity of Energy Issues Weakens the Efforts of the CAREC and the SCO
From Cooperation to Isolation
Russia’s Engagement in the Power Sector
Chinese Engagement in the Power Sector: Power Lines in Tajikistan
Chinese Engagement in the Power Sector: Substation and Transmission Line in Kyrgyzstan
Chinese Engagement in the Power Sector: “Reformatting” Regional Energy Flow
Hydrocarbons and the Pipelines that Carry Them
Gas Transporting Networks and Their Role in Regional Connectivity
Russia’s “Situational” Engagement
The Effects of the Combined Major Powers’ Actions and China’s Growing Role
Emerging Chinese Multilateralism and Changing Nature of Engagement
Central Asian Oil as an Instrument of Chinese Multilateralism
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
7 Laying Wires—Making Friends: Russia’s and China’s Engagement in the Telecommunication Sector and Its Effects on Regional Cooperation
Transcontinental Cables and Their Questionable Effects on Regional Connectivity
Convergence of Sub-sectors, Geographical Constraints and Technological Limitations
Sino-Russian Engagement and Transcontinental Cables Bypassing Central Asia
Re-wiring Regional Lines of Communication
Lower Cost—More Players—Less Clear Vision of a Single Region
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
8 Whose Voice Gets the Ear? Soft Power, Language and Regionalization in Central Asia
The Role of Russian Language
Russia’s Displacement and China’s Absence in the Media Sector in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan
Russia’s Media Engagement in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan
China’s “Public Relations” Approach in Central Asia
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
9 Conclusion
‘Ideology of Survival’: Central Asian States’ Reaction to Major Powers’ Engagement
‘Survival’ and Infrastructure
Russia’s Situational Engagement
China’s Engagement: Toward Multilateralism and a New ‘Shape’ of the Region
Sino-Russian Relations and Central Asian Regionalism
Notes
Bibliography
Bibliography
Index
