ABSTRACT

The aim in this chapter is to analyse the changing forms of international economic integration in the Central Asia Republics (CARs) of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan from their emergence as independent states at the time of the break-up of the Soviet Union to the world financial crisis of 2008. This builds from, and up-dates, previous work on those countries’ international positions (Myant and Drahokoupil 2008). The differences in the nature of international integration are followed with data on trade, financial flows, remittances and aid in achieving economic balance. These are the key determinants of differing levels of exposure to the effects of global economic instability.