Description

The countries of Central Asia are increasingly the focus of intense international attention because of their geopolitical and economic importance as well as their unsettled transition processes. The region faced enormous challenges when the Soviet Union disintegrated. Overall, it has made rudimentary progress in opening up to the international community, creating market institutions, and building more inclusive, democratic political processes. Daunting challenges remain - reflected in the region’s relatively low economic and human development indicators. In particular, reforms of the institutional environment have been largely neglected. It is evident that the lack of effective institution building as well as rule enforcement in the economic and political realms represents one of the key weaknesses and drawbacks of transition. Hence, crafting adequate market institutions will be of utmost importance in the years ahead.

This book explores key aspects of institution building as well as economic and political governance in Central Asia through an interdisciplinary approach. Contributors from different disciplines such as economics, political economy, political science, sociology, law, and ethnology investigates the challenges of institutional transition in a non-democratic region.

Making an important contribution to understanding of political-economic developments in Central Asia, this book will be of interest to students and scholars of political economy, comparative economics, development studies and Central Asian studies.

Contents