Стр. 10 - V

Authors: Sharbatullo Sodikov, Candidate of Science (Law), Research Associate, Analytical Center of
the Institute for International Studies, Moscow State Institute (University) of International Relations,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation
Konstantin Safronov, Expert, Center for Military Policy Studies, Moscow State Institute (University) of
International Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, postgraduate student at
the Bashkir Academy of State Service and Public Administration of the Office of the Head of the Re-
public of Bashkortostan, executive director of the Samrau Eurasian Center
Elnur Mekhdiev, Candidate of Science (History), Junior Research Assistant, Center for Post-Soviet
Studies of the Institute for International Studies
EXPERTS increasingly often use maidan, the Persian
for "open field," as the key word in describing today's
geopolitical situation in Eurasia. The conflict in
Ukraine has affected the geopolitical configurations
in Central Asia, and has created new obstacles and
challenges to the Eurasian integration project, a large-
scale plan to build an economic alliance of Russia and
several other former Soviet republics.
These events have had a serious geopolitical effect on
Eurasia. Analysts and experts in Central Asia immediately began to extrapolate the logic of the
Ukrainian crisis to Central Asian countries.
Russian society became more unified because of the Ukrainian conflict. There was an upsurge
in patriotism and a rise in national awareness, and not only among ethnic Russians but among
all ethnic groups of the country.
Today, the Central Asian countries have a clear realization of their need for economic relations
and trade with Russia. Russia is boosting its economic cooperation with all countries of the re-
gion. However, it is still unbalanced interaction.
The way the majority of Russia's population sees the Western sanctions fully coincides with the
picture produced by media content. Any news of new potential Western sanctions against Russia,
no matter how insignificant and even ludicrous they may be, actually serves to further consolidate
Russian society.
Despite major differences between the Central Asian economies, for instance those of Kaza-
khstan and Tajikistan, the majority of them experience similar problems such as poor diversifi-
cation, unemployment, undeveloped infrastructures, the monopolization of the domestic
markets, and rampant corruption. These problems stimulate the outmigration of labor, primarily
to Russia.
Western pressure on former Soviet republics could have been expected to hinder Eurasian inte-
gration but, on the contrary, has facilitated it. Post-Maidan Ukraine is a graphic illustration of a
Электронное приложение к журналу «Международная жизнь»
Outlook for the Post-Maidan Phase of Eurasian Integration Project