Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, countries in Central Asia with significant natural resources emerged and began the transition to a free market economy. As part of the major powers' natural resource and energy policies, foreign trade, investment, and aid initiatives targeted Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. As a result, the five Central Asian countries were able to establish their economic position in the global arena and demonstrate their potential for future development. However, these countries face numerous hurdles in becoming significant players worldwide.
In 1970, a British scientist, Susan Strange, developed the concept of geoeconomics 1970, which describes how governments use their economic resources and instruments to preserve their national interests and achieve geopolitical advantages. This theory is primarily utilized to comprehensively understand a country's foreign economic policies, goals, and interests.
This study examines the geoeconomics and strategies of the region's dominant powers and countries and the resource competition between them. It is also notable for being the first study of Central Asia in Mongolia to employ geoeconomic theory tools and frameworks. The research is divided into three chapters. It includes:
- Chapter one. The theory of geoeconomics
- Chapter two. Policies of great powers and regional actors in Central Asia
- U.S. geoeconomic policy and actions in Central Asia
- China's geoeconomic policy and actions in Central Asia
- Russia's geoeconomic policy and actions in Central Asia
- India's geoeconomic policy and actions in Central Asia
- Turkey's geoeconomic policy and actions in Central Asia
- Japan's geoeconomic policy, activities, and measures in the Central Asian region
- European Union's geoeconomic policy, activities, and measures in Central Asia
- Chapter three. Investments, multinational corporations, and State-owned enterprises in Central Asia.
The policy research was carried out in collaboration with the National Institute for Security Studies of Mongolia and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mongolia. The project team included experienced researchers Dr. N. Dorjsuren, Dr. C. Sumya and S. Naranzul, P. Nyambayar, T. Monkhbayar, B. Byambakhand, and N. Otgontamir, and Thelma Divry worked as a project assistant.
