Inter-state cooperation in Central Asia from the CIS to the Shanghai Forum

In a world in which the processes of globalisation so clearly reward those states that conform to international norms and punish those that do not, the adoption of cooperative policies is at a premium. The arrangements of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have, by general acknowledgement, not fully realised the goals of promoting regional Eurasian cooperation. Given the shortcomings of the CIS, over the past decade the Central Asian states have repeatedly made efforts at policy correctives with the intention of creating a new foundation for post-independence inter-state cooperation. More recently, outbreaks of insurgency and terrorism have created a region-wide sense of alarm that has, in turn, contributed to a renewed sense of urgency to find formulas to enhance cooperation in the region. The unsatisfactory record of inter-state cooperation in Central Asia over the past decade raises both theoretical and practical questions. What are the principal dimensions of interstate conflict and cooperation in Central Asia? What policy correctives and new institutional arrangements offer a prospect of inclining the Central Asian states toward greater cooperative problem solving on a regional level? Given the experiences of this first decade, how should we assess the prospects of success for new cooperation initiatives such as the Shanghai Forum and the Eurasian Economic Community?.