Publication Name

Environment and Security

strengthening identities, both national identities and – for

many opposition groups – political identities too. Hence

Islam has at present a double role: as a stabilizing factor

as well as a mobilizing factor since opposition groups have

used Islam to channel grievances.

Finally

political transition and change

is an issue of concern.

Central Asian countries are still governed by leadership with

a common background and socialization. This has played

a positive role in averting crises and overcoming tensions.

But centralized politics means interstate relations depend a

great deal on personal relations within and between central

government circles and makes the issue of political change

extremely sensitive, as was evident during recent events

in Kyrgyzstan in 2005.

Economic factors

The rationale of the common Soviet market and economic

system has disappeared, forcing Central Asian states to find

their own position in the global market without the support

of a redistributive economy. Their geographical position,

landlocked between two economic and political “giants”

– China and Russia – makes their task difficult, especially for

poor countries. The five countries are differently endowed in

terms of natural resources, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan

benefiting the most from their large energy resources (oil

and gas).

Control of such reserves and their transport

is a

key factor in the interest of neighbouring states (Russia, the

Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan and China) and global players

such as the US.

Though there is nominal support for economic reform,

practical implementation of such policies has varied from

one country to the next, and within individual countries

from one region to another. The picture is the same for

issues such as land privatization. This phenomenon has

contributed to increased political, cultural and economic

fragmentation of a region

formerly characterized by con-

siderable integration in a larger market, with a single set of

(Soviet) laws and regulations and the redistributive benefits

of the Soviet economy.

Central Asia produces raw materials that need to be

transported over long distances to reach markets, local

ones being limited in size and purchasing power. Creating

national borders and levying customs duty makes trade

and transport expensive and difficult.

Restrictive border

management

policies and practices, combined with legal

and illegal levies and duties, have a negative impact on

trade and living conditions in areas such as the Ferghana

valley. Such practices favour harassment, corruption and

smuggling

and strain relations between the population

and border forces. Interstate customs agreements have

so far been ineffective.

All three economies are

predominantly agricultural

. Ag-

riculture employs 67% of the labour force in Tajikistan,

53% in Kyrgyzstan and 45% in Uzbekistan

. They all rely

on primary exports (gold, aluminium, cotton), exposing

them to fluctuating world prices. Heavy reliance on cotton

production (see the next chapter) and other crops means

their

economies depend a great deal on seasonal climate

and weather conditions, and the availability of arable land

and adequate amounts of water for irrigation (see discus-

sion in next chapter)

��

�

��

Osh has a fine climate, an abundance of

running waters and a most beautiful spring

season. Many traditions have their rise in its

excellencies.