2018-10-25

Policy Paper on “Central Asia without the West?”

On 21 October the policy paper ‘Central Asia without the West’ was published, a result of a brainstorming workshop and simulation exercise that took place at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek in late August. This three-day workshop, titled “New Security Challenges in Central Asia”, was organized by the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies (NESA) and the OSCE Academy within the framework of their long-time partnership and as a part of NESA’s annual Central Asia Working Group meeting.

During the workshop a team of 11 experts from Central Asia, the United States, Ukraine, India and Hong Kong tried to address the concept of the ‘West’ and its impact on regional and national priorities of the Central Asia states; to question what the region might lose or gain without the West, and how other actors can change their agenda and narratives in the region; and to discuss if other actors are ready to step in and fill the void and whether or not they would benefit without the presence of the West/US.

Download the Policy Paper