[Discussion] ON-LINE DISCUSSION- Challenges & Opportunities for Integration in Central Asia

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

From: Central Asian Gateway <CAGateway@cer.uz>

ON-LINE DISCUSSION- Challenges & Opportunities for Integration in 
Central Asia

E-Discussion Launch:

Institutional and Political Challenges and Opportunities for Integration in
Central Asia
16 May - 16 June 2005

Dear colleagues,

The Central Asian Gateway Portal invites you to take part in an online
discussion on the following issue: Institutional and Political 
Challenges and
Opportunities for Integration in Central Asia.

Whilst the challenges for integration faced are immense, there is also a 
real
potential to overcome these barriers. The common Soviet history, political
conflicts, institutional problems and legal issues are all considerable 
barriers
to integration The role of the forum is to help to find ways to turn these
points of divergence into points of convergence.

Forum participation is welcome on any issue of regional integration. 
Each week a
new theme will be discussed, as a way of guiding the discussion on regional
co-operation. It is envisaged that by focusing on specific issues and then
feeding this specific debate into a more general analysis of regional
development issues, that we can better understand the "Institutional and
Political Challenges and Opportunities for Integration in Central Asia".

Specifically we will be discussing:

  - The potential for the creation of supranational structures, (a Union of
    the Central Asian states) or intergovernmental agreements (CACO, 
SCO, etc.)
  - How existing institutions can play a role in furthering regional 
integration
  - Drug and crime control across borders
  - The historical challenges to integration
  - Any other issue that you find interesting or important.

This e-discussion will feature special comments and papers 'by 
invitation' from
International and Domestic experts working in Central Asia. We welcome input
from all those individuals living and working in or studying Central 
Asia and CA
issues.

The first topic for discussion is "The potential for the creation of
supranational structures". This issue is chosen because of the importance of
institutions in promoting economic growth and livelihoods of those in the
region. Also, because it reflects some of the greatest challenges to 
regional
integration. With politically structures inherited from the Soviet era, 
national
rivalries with competing claims, and the continued importance of the 
state in
all five economies, this case study should promote lively debate.

The discussion is being moderated by Mr. Caleb Wall, Doctoral Fellow, 
Economic
and Ecological Restructuring of Land and Water Use in the Khorezm Region
Project, Uzbekistan. We would highly appreciate your participation on the
Central Asian Gateway Forum and your contribution to discussion the ways of
Central Asian integration.

Central Asian Gateway Component
URL: http://www.cagateway.org
E-mail: cagateway@cer.uz




Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian 
Studies