Multilateralism versus Regionalism in Eurasia: Theoretical Reasons of Choosing Sides for Kyrgyzstan

This paper asks whether Kyrgyzstan should take part in the newly established Customs Union among Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia or in the World Trade Organization (WTO). From the start of the foundation of the new Customs Union there have been deep discussions among the proponents and opponents of organization. This issue attracted extra attention and interest because the new Customs Union includes non-members of the World Trade Organization such as Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan. In Addition, the new Customs Union, unlike previous regional trade agreements, has formed a supranational body –the Custom Union Commission - which will decide on Common External Tariffs. Kyrgyzstan is already a member country of WTO and is going to join the new Customs Union. How will this membership work for Kyrgyzstan in short and long-term period? Will the new Customs Union be substitutive or complementary to the WTO in the development of international trade of Kyrgyzstan? Which side would be more beneficial for Kyrgyzstan: membership to a regional Customs Union or to a multilateral WTO? This paper hopes to answer these main questions. This paper will have five sections. Section one will provide a brief introduction. Section two will analyze the development of regionalism and multilateralism in the region. In section three, theoretical compatibility of regionalism and multilateralism will be discussed. Section four will determine what can be proposed for the current situation of Kyrgyzstan according to selected theoretical literature. Concluding remarks will be given in last section.