External drivers of institutional change in Central Asia: Regional integration schemes and the role of Russia and China

Arbeitspapier

Russia and China are assumed to challenge democratization and to promote autocracy. In a first step, we analyze Central Asia as the most-likely case, considering both Russia and China as relevant external actors. We develop a concept for our analysis based on the different strategies of Russia (dominance) and China (doing-business) towards the region and present the results of a qualitative study of the main dimensions of autocracy promotion with respect to regional and bilateral schemes. In a second step, we extend a previous framework (Melnykovska and Schweickert 2011) and provide econometric evidence based on a panel of post-socialist countries. We show that bilateral schems are (still) more relevant for external influences in Central Asia and that (unintentionally) China's doing-business approach may in fact promote institutional change. Arguably, democratization should not be a precondition for cooperation as in European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) but rather be promoted by sweeping economic cooperation incentives.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Kiel Working Paper ; No. 1763

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations ; International Relations and International Political Economy: Other
• Subject: Central Asia ; China ; Russia ; governance ; regional integration ; trade ; minorities ; military threat ; Autoritäres System ; Russland ; China ; Handelsregionalismus ; Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen ; Governance-Ansatz ; Demokratisierung ; Zentralasien

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Schweickert, Rainer ; Melnykovska, Inna ; Plamper, Hedwig
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)
• (where): Kiel
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/56381
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET