ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by seeking to understand the reemergence of Greater Central Asia (GCA) as a regional concept and why it is relevant, despite the relatively low levels of regional integration. It considers the regional cooperation structures, notably the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and their limitations, and what role China and Russia play in them. The concept of Greater Central Asia is a contested one; and yet it is arguably better, from both a historical and a contemporary perspective, than others such as Eurasia and Central Asia. The SCO has arguably emerged as the most interesting regional organization in Central Asia, with potential to establish multilateral structures that could make deep inroads with regard to regional integration in terms of economic, security and political cooperation. The notion of GCA as a hub of economic, and cultural, interaction is nothing new but is founded in a 2000-year-old tradition that was temporarily interrupted by Soviet occupation and will again grow in importance.
