Central Asia: Crossroads for Global Economic Stratagem

Abstract

Central Asia has remained the center for global economic attention ever since its independence and even though this region largely remains either ignored or under-developed, the global economic paradigm shift has it in its crosshairs. The paper aims to assess the predominant issues surrounding Central Asia and evaluates possibilities of Central Asia transforming from being a Russian resource depot to becoming the alternative to Middle East. This paper aims to examine the role of regional and global stakeholders in shaping and recalibrating role of Central Asia as an alternate economic corridor both for international commerce and for resource exploitation and to assess challenges to Central Asia in maintaining its grip over domestic and trans border issues. This paper aims also to point out the environmental challenges to Central Asia that would prospectively reshape regional and global economic archetypes and might create a potential global flashpoint in the years to come.