UNDERSTANDING JAPANESE SOFT POWER POLICY AND ITS FEATURE IN CENTRAL ASIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 029-038
Author(s):  
Farrukh Usmonov ◽  
Fumiaki Inagaki
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Border Conflicts ◽  
History Of ◽  
Central Asian Countries

The states of the Central Asian region obtained their independence in 1991 and have been undergoing a turbulent transition process, such as civil war, cross-border conflicts, revolution and socio-political reforms. Japan has been furthering its cooperation with the Central Asian countries since the day diplomatic relations were established. Despite only a 25-year history of cooperation, Japan has developed numerous and diverse patterns of involvement in the Central Asian region. There is a positive attitude towards Japan and Japanese people among the population of Central Asian countries. This work explores the features of Japanese soft power policy and its development in Central Asia. The core of the multilateral collaboration format in Japanese Central Asian Policy is “Central Asia + Japan,” which aims to promote inter-regional and intra-regional cooperation among the Central Asian states.

scholarly journals International Cultural Heritage Conventions and the Central Asian Region: Current Framework and Future Perspectives

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-32
Author(s):  
Alberto Frigerio
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Heritage ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
International Community ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Tentative Interpretation ◽  
Central Asian Countries

Acknowledging the value and importance of culture at local, national and global levels, the international community has progressively developed a series of conventions for the protection, preservation and enhancement of cultural heritage. Each of these conventions provides a unique set of binding principles and practices that member-states must follow in order to strengthen the protection of the heritage at stake. Still, while some of these laws have been enthusiastically embraced by Central Asian countries, others have been mostly ignored or avoided. This article aims to briefly examine three issues. First, the current rate of ratification of these conventions in the Central Asian region. Second, the main reasons why some of these legal documents have not received a spread endorsement in Central Asia. Third, a tentative interpretation of Central Asian states’ intentions over the next years.

scholarly journals The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: Gateway to Central Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
pp. 455-469
Author(s):  
Mir Sher Baz Khetran ◽  
Muhammad Humayun Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Energy Demands ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Regional Markets ◽  
History Of ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
The Belt And Road

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a flagship project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI); and its launch in 2015 was regarded as a landmark event in the history of the Sino-Pakistani relationship. With a budget amounting to over $62 billion, it has become the foremost regional integration initiative between China and Pakistan. The project is also open to all interested regional stakeholders, among which Central Asia is one of the most important in geopolitical terms. Located in a landlocked but resource-rich region, Central Asian countries need better access to regional markets including Pakistan, China, India, and the countries of West Asia. Pakistan and China have huge energy demands that can be satisfied by growing trade with Central Asia. Thus, the CPEC will not only benefit Pakistan and China, but it also presents a strategic opportunity for Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan to transport their goods more easily and gain competitiveness in regional and global markets.

Confucian Influence: The Place of Soft Power in China’s Strategy Towards Central Asia

China Report ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 328-344
Author(s):  
Shabnam Dadparvar ◽  
Hamidreza Azizi
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
International System ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Status ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
Ancient Silk Road

China has traditionally had close relations with Central Asia for quite a long time. The main reasons for this are probably their social, cultural, and demographic bonds, as well as geographical proximity, providing China with a different status in Central Asia from those of the other regions in the world. These bonds have also been strengthened by the ancient Silk Road, beginning in China and passing through Central Asia and Iran towards Europe. Cultural relations, in general, and China’s attempt to expand its means of soft power in the region, in particular, have been a significant aspect of the ties between China and the Central Asian countries. It has drawn attention, especially over the recent decade, and has manifested in various forms. By focussing on the dimension of relations between China and the Central Asian countries, this article addresses the question of what does China try to achieve by expanding its soft power in Central Asia? The article argues that China has focussed on the expansion of its soft power and the consolidation of cultural ties with the Central Asian countries to expand its influence in the region and, eventually, to rise as a new centre of power in the international system. Following a conceptual discussion on the definition of soft power, the article analyses the status of soft power in China’s foreign policy and then, the representations of China’s soft power in Central Asia. Finally, the essay discusses the effects of the soft power factor on the expansion of Chinese influence in the region.

PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 094-108
Author(s):  
Karlygash Mukhtarova ◽  
Klara Makasheva ◽  
Zere Kenzhebaeva ◽  
Mansiya Sadyrova
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Service Sector ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Central Asian Countries

This research article examines the state and prospects of economic cooperation among the countries of Central Asia (CA). As history would have it, economic cooperation within the CA region was previously limited, and investments in Central Asia were mainly concentrated in the mining sector of the economy. Demographic and economic trends in the region have led to an expansion of the internal market; most Central Asian states have implemented wide-ranging reforms, which have improved the overall investment climate; and the CA states have stepped up the development of multilateral trade and economic relations, laying the groundwork for broader cooperation. The article also covers recent problems related to the economic situation in the region. For example, the current situation associated with COVID-19 has had an impact on economic relations between the CA countries. In the view of international experts, this crisis has not provided any new reasons for integration in the region. The quarantine measures taken in various Central Asian countries have had a negative effect on their foreign trade and thus on intra-regional trade and economic cooperation in general. The authors also examine other problems, such as those caused by the CA countries’ economic dependence on other countries, namely their dependence on imports from outside the region. These problems also affect the prospects of economic cooperation in Central Asia. All countries, including those rich in natural resources, want to produce and export finished goods with high value added. The production of high value added products and services enables a country to earn more revenue and reduce its dependence on primary commodity exports. The Central Asian countries are no exception. But for many reasons their finished products are often insufficiently competitive in countries outside the region. Despite the existence of economic problems connected with the need to improve the economic aspects of cooperation, there is a clear trend towards diversification of the economy of the CA countries caused by a desire to develop various specializations. These include agricultural processing, production of consumer goods for the population, development of the service sector, and other areas. Thus, the choice of a new model for the development of multilateral relations and the emerging trend towards economic growth in the region have made it possible to lay the foundation for long-term cooperation among the Central Asian states. Keywords: regional cooperation, Central Asia region, diversification of the economy, trade regimes, external economic policy, region, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan.

scholarly journals Federal University’s Role in the Implementation of the Russian Federation “Soft Power” Conception in Central Asia (The Case of Northern (Arctic) Federal University Named After M.V. Lomonosov)

2020 ◽  
pp. 223-232
Author(s):  
Slavyana Boldyreva ◽  
Roman Boldyrev ◽  
Nataliya Beloshitskaya
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Students ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Russian Federation ◽  
Soft Power ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Educational Programmes ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
The Russian Federation

Introduction. Currently the notion of the “soft power” is perceived as an effective way of nation’s non-forcible influence on other countries with a view to implement one’s own objectives. Suchlike implementation is confined to particular spheres to form a positive image of the nation. Higher education today is one of the most efficient instruments of the “soft power” implementation in the countries of Central Asia, for it allows securing friendly political and economic elite as well as enhancing the quality of labour migrants to the Russian Federation. The aim of the research is to analyze particular features of the “soft power” implementation in the domain of higher education in case with the region of Central Asia on the example of Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov (the city of Arkhangelsk, Russia, henceforth NArFU). Methods and materials. The study is based on systematic and comparative approaches to the analysis of the Russian “soft power” strategy in the domain of higher education. The study in hand also draws on general approaches to the “soft power” implementation in the region of Central Asia. The main sources for the analysis are annual reports on implementing the NArFU programme of development. These reports pay a great deal of attention to academic recruiting and academic mobility. Analysis. The Central Asia region is crucial from the view point of Russia’s interests. The region is rich in hydrocarbon deposits, it boasts a great transit potential in international trade, and this is the region where the biggest number of migrants come from to Russia. For these reasons Russia is strengthening its “soft power” influence on Central Asian countries in general and in the sphere of higher education in particular. From the very day of the NArFU foundation in 2010, the region of Central Asia has been considered as a high-priority region. The example of NArFU demonstrates that the number of international students in the total number of full-cycle students has risen by 8.4 times, wherein the growth is secured mainly by students from Central Asian countries. Central Asian students’ percentage of the total number of international students is 82–89.3%. The percentage of students from the region in question, doing short-term educational programmes is also high – 49.5–61.4%. Diverse mechanisms are exploited to attract would-be students to NArFU: agreements with educational establishments of the region; visits of NArFU’s representatives (both lecturers and students) to the region; NArFU’s participation in international exhibitions on education; presenting NArFU’s educational programmes on the basis of “Rossotrudnichestvo” regional offices; inviting school graduates to study within the quota for fellow-countrymen residing abroad; arranging off-site university testing and multi-disciplinary intellectual contests; higher educational allowances and medical insurance compensation; active promotion with the help of social media. The international Friendship Club and the team of tutors were set up to ensure better social and cultural adaptation, regular events and excursions take place on the same purpose. Results. Despite the fact that there is no general state-level integral concept on attracting school graduates from the countries of Central Asia to the universities of Russia, NArFU managed to occupy the niche on the educational market of the region. University’s administration has been pursuing a clear course towards attracting would-be students from Central Asia, exploiting a wide range of mechanisms to enhance academic recruiting, relying upon the advantages of Arkhangelsk region in the sphere of migrants’ adaptation. Over the recent ten years the factors mentioned above have brought about more than eight times growth of students from the region of Central Asia in NArFU.

CHINA: GEO-ECONOMIC SCENARIO IN CENTRAL ASIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 022-028
Author(s):  
Julia Harlamova
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Investment Policy ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Belt And Road Initiative ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Belt And Road ◽  
Central Asian Countries

The article discusses China’s geo-economic presence in the Central Asian region and analyzes the history and causes of this phenomenon in the form of a detailed discussion of the interaction between China and the Central Asian countries in the energy and transportation spheres. It notes the special role of Kazakhstan in the realization of Belt and Road Initiative and pays particular attention to certain aspects of China’s crediting and investment policy.

scholarly journals About the involvement of the labour migrants from Central Asian countries in terroristic activities

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 (4) ◽  
pp. 92-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin Borichev ◽  
Mihail Pavlik
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Migrant Workers ◽  
The United States ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Terrorist Organizations ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Asian Region ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
Terrorist Acts

The article is devoted to the consideration of the issue of participation of immigrants from the countries of the Central Asian region in terrorist activities both in Russia and in the whole world. In particular, information about the organizers and perpetrators of some terrorist acts committed in recent years in Europe, the United States and Russia was studied. It was made an attempt to analyze the current situation and identify the main reasons that contribute to the involvement of immigrants from Central Asia in terrorist activities. The main factors inherent in terrorists – immigrants from the environment of migrants, which are used by recruiters of international terrorist organizations to involve them in criminal activities, are revealed. The features of migrants residing in the territory of Russia, which contribute to the active involvement of international terrorist organizations of immigrants from the Central Asian region to commit terrorist acts and other crimes of a terrorist nature, are determined. The study revealed the fundamental directions of anti-terrorist activities in Russia in the sphere of countering the terrorist threat emanating from Central Asia. Special attention is paid to the prevention of terrorism among migrant workers, the participation in this activity of representatives of the employer, public and religious organizations, national communities.

scholarly journals Problems of Regionalization in Post-Soviet Central Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-155
Author(s):  
D. B. Malysheva
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Regional Cooperation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Resource Base ◽  
National Interests ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Central Asian Countries

Different interpretations of the concept of “Central Asia” (CA) as well as mutual definitions of its geographical borders indicate the incompleteness in the process of forming Central Asia as a region. Regionalization as an effective form of upholding and promoting by Central Asian countries their national interests is distinguished in Central Asia by a multilevel characterization. It includes the desire of the republics to promote their national interests as sovereign states, then to develop their trade, economic and political interaction within the framework of integration processes, and to join various integration initiatives and supranational projects with a wide range of non‑regional participants. Central Asian states’ attempts to develop intra‑regional cooperation in the period from 1994 to 2005 ended in failure. Since 2017, the idea of a “new integration” has been gaining popularity in Central Asia, and it is considered to be a part of the construction within the framework of the Union of Central Asian States which is planned for creation. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan claim for the role of “region‑forming” countries and two cores around which the development of hypothetical regional integration is possible. At the same time, the foreign policy of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, their approaches to security problems have a kind of differences, while their regional neighbors are also differ from each other in their approaches to some economic and social issues; the resource base of Central Asian states is incomparable either. Therefore, there are many factors that hinder a regionalization as well as an integration. Among them are the centripetal aspirations of the Central Asian countries/ They prefer, instead of neighbors in the region, external partners and markets, international financial institutions and donor structures. There are objective obstacles that impede regionalization, including the fact that the five republics of the region reluctant to share the sovereignty acquired after the collapse of the USSR in favor of supranational structures, whether they operate on the scale of the post‑Soviet space or they are planned to be created within the region.

New European Union strategy for Central Asia

2020 ◽  
pp. 72-79
Author(s):  
S. Gavrilova
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
High Importance ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Central Asian Countries

For several decades, the European Union has been steadily increasing its presence in Central Asian countries. The EU's interests in the region are due to a number of reasons, including the desire to expand its influence in the Central Asian countries, the high importance of the region as a transit corridor between Europe and China, the prospects for economic cooperation, and the importance of the region's energy potential. In May 2019 The European Union has presented a new Strategy for Central Asia, designed to intensify cooperation in a number of areas of interaction. The new strategy is aimed at both implementing these interests and expanding cooperation in a number of other areas.

KAZAKHSTAN’S POSITION IN THE ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL ASIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 110-121
Author(s):  
Karlygash MUKHTAROVA ◽  
Yermukhambet KONUSPAYEV ◽  
Klara MAKASHEVA ◽  
Karim SHAKIROV
Keyword(s):  
Central Asia ◽  
Economic Model ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Economic Cooperation ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Central Asian Countries ◽  
Economic Ties

Improving the forms and mechanisms of regional economic integration, deepening the mutual understanding on the formation of an economically and politically secure integrated space, expanding trade and economic relations, elaborating joint actions to maintain regional peace and stability, creating a single information space are among the key areas that have become the basis of cooperation among the Central Asian region (CAR) states. The authors reveal the positive aspects of cooperation among the CAR countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. First and foremost, these include common historical roots, linguistic and cultural similarity, convenient geographical location and established economic ties, which allow the states of Central Asia (CA) to establish a deeper and more active understanding of each other, to solve economic and political problems related to finding and realizing domestic investment potential and expanding regional trade and economic ties. The joint establishment of international transport corridors and infrastructure will help reduce the transport costs for Central Asian countries that supply export products to external markets, which is an important area of ​​cooperation in Central Asia. In addition, the economic problems that exist among the regional countries largely determine the nature of relations between them. Future solution of problems determines the subsequent viability of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) and the regional development prospects. Based on the use of economic research tools, the authors examine the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on the state of trade and economic relations between the regional states. Post-crisis plans for economic recovery in the Central Asian countries will be developed and implemented in the context of the need to solve the present-day problems associated with the gradual lifting of quarantine measures. In this regard, the quickest possible transition of economies to an upward growth trajectory should launch the expansion of trade and economic cooperation and ties among the Central Asian countries. The authors emphasize the fact that another important problem within CAREC is the fact that CAR economies are dominated by raw materials, which does not solve the problems of reducing social inequality and improving the welfare of the regional population. For this reason, Kazakhstan, like other Central Asian countries, is currently in search of a new economic model. The transformation is crucial because the country needs to overcome its excessive long-term dependence on the export of oil and raw materials. The new economic model should be focused on further industrialization and diversification of the economy, on the search for new innovative approaches and development strategies.

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