The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional mechanism, which
was created in 2001 and consists of the following:
People’s Republic of China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It was inspired by the need to solve the border disputes lingering between the Soviet Union’s successor states and China in the wake of the end of the Cold War. Originally a Chinese initiative, taken after resolving their border problems with Central Asia and Russia, it was also profitable for the Central Asian States, which were lacking in consistency, stability and resources in the mid-nineties and struggling to establish multilateral and bilateral relations beyond the region. It was also designed as a platform to balance the role of the United States in the Central Asian region.
Main findings of this paper :
- The SCO has been able to meet with its initial objective to establish geopolitical multipolarity in Central Asia and check the US advance into the region.
- It is a reflection of the emerging multi-polar world.
- Its increasingly acquiring strength is suggestive of becoming a major political force of the Eurasian region.
- The SCO will play a vital role in ensuring international security.
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