ABSTRACT
Conventionally, Central Asia has been considered to be the gateway to world dominance. However, regardless of the number of willing hegemons, the region has demonstrated a state of flux, shifting allegiances and unpredictability in its geopolitics. This chapter explores why there is no hegemon in Central Asia in classical terms by focusing on potentially hegemonic projects that aim to (re)organise economies and societies. It argues that the usual narrative misses an important reality of social resistance potential that has fragmented the state and undermined the success of hegemonic projects. Two case studies explored here – such as Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) and Central Asian South Asia water-sharing framework (CASA-1000) – show how potentially effective projects can undermine themselves by neglecting the sources of social change and failing to improvise in the times of uncertainty.
