Regional Cooperation and Integration: Central Asia

Central Asia has been the focus of international attention since the break-up of the Soviet Union. As countries such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan become more integrated and dependent upon one another, there is a real need for the region to work together toward a stable, prosperous and cohesive Central Asia region.

In December 2005, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), published a report titled "Bringing Down Barriers: Regional Cooperation for Human Development and Human Security," a comprehensive analysis of the many challenges that confront Central Asia. The report concludes that strengthening regional cooperation among the Central Asian republics would produce substantial political and economic gains, including income increases of 50 percent to 100 percent over the next 10 years. Brookings Scholar and Executive Director of the Wolfensohn Center, Johannes F. Linn, served as project leader and lead author for this report.

Drawing on the findings of the report, Brookings and UNDP co-hosted a one-day conference that examined the future of regional cooperation and integration in Central Asia with a distinguished list of experts.

• "Eurasian Integration—a Super-continental Opportunity for Russia," Kommersant, by Johannes F. Linn [English | Russian]
• "New Impetus towards Economic Integration between Europe and Asia," Asia Europe Journal, by Johannes F. Linn and David Tomkin
• "Super-Presidential Risks and Opportunities in Russia," Kommersant, by Johannes F. Linn