On Reconceptualization of Regionalism in Central Asia from Within and Outside the Region
Abstract
Abstract This article has as its goal to reinvestigate some of the main standing concepts and conceptualizations that have playing a defining role in shaping the post-Soviet Central Asian Studies. In doing so, the article will attempt to delve into the collective imaginaries of Central Asia among scholarly, expert and policy circles. Initial insights reveal that multiple eclectic, synthetic and organic trends co-exist in the context of integration and region-building that compete in the discourse of political and academic circles. The reconceptualization of regionalism in Central Asia is an essential academic and policy-driven endeavor that reflects the dynamic political, economic, and social transformations occurring in the region. This reconceptualization involves rethinking traditional approaches to regional cooperation and integration in response to new geopolitical realities, economic opportunities, and socio-cultural developments.