QUO VADIS, CENTRAL ASIA? A SEARCH FOR SOVEREIGNTY AMID GLOBAL POWER SHIFTS
QUO VADIS, CENTRAL ASIA? A SEARCH FOR SOVEREIGNTY AMID GLOBAL POWER SHIFTS

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the intersection of political and economic factors in the Central Asian states through the prism of ensuring national interests amidst the currentgeopolitical developments. Against the backdrop of Russia's waning global influence, andChina´s growing economic presence in Central Asian economies, this region has once againbecome a key link in global competition. The main objective of this article is to trace the“renaissance of Central Asia” by addressing how Central Asia's historical trajectory impactssustainable regional cooperation and how current geopolitical strategies of the Central Asianstates shape long-term stability, economic sovereignty, and resilience of the region to externalpressures and changing international context. The article takes a qualitative approach toassess how regional actors address current political, security, and economic challenges. Theparadigm shift is illustrated by case studies of the most populous regional actor, Uzbekistan,as the “lost heart” of Central Asia. The study also highlights how competing influences fromRussia, China, or Turkey, redefine the strategic orientation of the region through historicallinks and contemporary policy analysis. The findings reveal that the future of the region isdependent upon the five republics´ inclusive ability to reconcile regional interests, safeguardnational sovereignty, and manage political-security risks amid global power shifts.

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