Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In recent years, the term connectivity has become increasingly associated with Central Asia, particularly in relation to infrastructure, logistics, trade, and economic development projects. As a landlocked region reliant on external partners to access global markets, Central Asia has witnessed growing investment aimed at facilitating the transit of goods, people, and capital. Yet, the normative and political dimensions of connectivity remain underexplored in the existing literature. This article seeks to address this gap by examining the concept of connectivity in Central Asia through the lens of raison de systéme, or ‘systemic interest’ —a notion that transcends narrow national interests to emphasize the systemic rationale of political choices, one that fosters interdependence and underpins regional political ordering. By adopting this analytical focus, the paper demonstrates to both academic and policy communities that connectivity in Central Asia is not solely driven by economic and geopolitical calculations, but also reflects a transformed regional context in which connectivity emerges as a normative cornerstone of regional stability and order.
DOI: 10.36253/asiac-3577
Author: Filippo Costa Buranelli
Institution: University of St Andrews
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412038909