Eurasian Integration: Challenges of Transcontinental Regionalism

• Flyer

  PDF, 244.48 Kb

• Sample chapter

  PDF, 257.79 Kb

E. Vinokurov, А. Libman (2012)
London: Palgrave Macmillan

This book examines the major economic and political transitions currently taking place in the Eurasian continent. Vinokurov and Libman provide a detailed account of various aspects of Eurasian integration, looking at both its bright side (trade, investments and joint infrastructure) and dark side (trafficking humans and drugs and the spread of diseases) and linking it to waves of «Eurasian exchanges» in the past. The authors explore how political reality adapts and shapes the changing networks of economic interconnections and delineate a concept of «pragmatic Eurasianism» necessary for understanding these linkages and sharply contrasting to the heavily ideological views of Eurasia that often dominate the political and social discussions.

This book examines the major economic and political transitions currently taking place in the Eurasian continent. Vinokurov and Libman provide a detailed account of various aspects of Eurasian integration, looking at both its bright side (trade, investments and joint infrastructure) and dark side (trafficking humans and drugs and the spread of diseases) and linking it to waves of «Eurasian exchanges» in the past. The authors explore how political reality adapts and shapes the changing networks of economic interconnections and delineate a concept of «pragmatic Eurasianism» necessary for understanding these linkages and sharply contrasting to the heavily ideological views of Eurasia that often dominate the political and social discussions.

Two main perspectives are explored. One focuses on the political economy of Eurasian integration. Although economic interdependence between Eurasian countries is increasing, any formal or informal cross-border cooperation on the continent faces significant difficulties. The second perspective we take is more applied, concentrating on the specific industries in which trans-continental linkages exist and may exist in the future. It is argued that advancing towards continental Eurasian common markets, based on the development of common infrastructure, brings significant economic benefits.

CONTENTS

PART I: THE CONCEPT OF EURASIAN INTEGRATION

The Scope of Eurasian Integration

The Waves of Eurasian Exchange

Top-down and Bottom-up Integration in Eurasia

PART II: EMERGING EURASIAN ECONOMIC LINKAGES

Spaghetti, Noodle and Lapsha: Continental Bias in Trade in Eurasia

Factor Flows in Eurasia: Mutual Investments, Evolving Eurasian Multinationals and Fragmented Labour Markets

PART III: INFRASTRUCTURE OF EURASIANINTEGRATION

From a trans-European and trans-Asian to a trans-Eurasian vision of Transport Corridors

Borderless Energy: Common Electric Power Markets

Telecommunications Links Across the Continent

PART IV: INTEGRATION THROUGH MUTUAL PROBLEMS

Transborder Ecological Issues on the Continent

«Shadow Integration»: Trafficking of Drugs, People and Arms, and the Effects of Microbes and Epidemics

PART V: FORMAL INTERGOVERNMETNAL COOPERATION

Variations Between Political Systems

Integration of Large States

Sub-Regional Aspects of Eurasian Integration

PART VI: NORTHERN AND CENTRAL EURASIA: THE SUCCESSOR OF THE POSTSOVIET AREA

From Post-Soviet to Eurasian Integration

Central Asia at the Crossroads: a Laboratory of Eurasian Integration

Conclusion