COOPERATION AMONG THE CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES: INSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS OF INTEGRATION AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

Abstract

This article provides a systematic analysis of the current state, challenges, and prospects of economic cooperation in the Central Asian region. Recent geopolitical shifts—the Russia–Ukraine conflict, China–U.S. rivalry, and the interaction between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Belt and Road Initiative—necessitate the development of a new model of regional integration. Based on existing challenges to cooperation and on prevailing conceptual approaches, the article offers practical proposals for institutional reform. The study’s conclusions may serve as practical recommendations for the states of Central Asia.