Highlight 5/2024 – Building Bridges between Central Asia and the European Union through Public Diplomacy
Jalil Vokhidov, 26 January 2024
The relations, established in the early 2000s, between the European Union (EU) and Central Asia have evolved into a multifaceted collaboration that spans diplomatic, economic, and cultural dimensions. Nevertheless, the roots of ancient diplomatic relations delve deep into history, tracing back to eras when caravans traversed the ancient Silk Road, connecting cultures and fostering economic exchange of the East and West – as it was written in the marvellous Spanish narrative of journey to Asia. Today, the EU and the five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – are even more interested in fostering inter-regional relationships reflecting a mutual recognition of shared interests and the importance of fostering stability and development in the Central Asian region
Despite more than thirty years of cooperation, various challenges have hindered the swift advancement of these relationships. Since 2022, there has been an increase in the relations between Central Asian countries and the EU, characterized by a growing number of mutual visits from both state leaders and foreign ministries. Due to the fact that fostering enhanced partnership between the EU and Central Asia on based of mutual interests has a profound importance for both sides, the EU is actively seeking to broaden its transportation pathways and enhance its sources of crucial natural resources. Simultaneously, Central Asian nations are enthusiastic about drawing EU investments to stimulate economic growth. Thus, as the EU’s chief diplomat highlight: “By building connections among people, it is supposed to enable connections between regions”.
The question whether both sides are able to build a stronger and modern partnership through public diplomacy tools is crucial for more connectivity between the EU and Central Asia. According to the coiner of “soft power” Joseph S. Nye, the small states could become more powerful due to the forms of communications which have had a revolutionary effect
on influencing others if they wield the soft power resources. Therefore, Central Asia with almost 80 million population should focus on promoting strategic goals by disseminating its interests and values to boost the EU’s awareness for more effective engagement with the region. Intensifying of public diplomacy campaigns so as to raise awareness and foster positive perceptions among the populations of the EU. Pointing out the benefits of cooperation and today’s developments of Central Asia can create a supportive public environment which is an indispensable instrument when it comes to decision making process by policy makers of the Union.
Cultural diplomacy exchange, as one of the common clichés of public diplomacy, might play a pivotal role in building an impactful bridge. Educational endeavors – where the lifelong connection often seeds among the future leaders – facilitate creating informal dialogue channels of communication which may come to help when official lines are blocked. Thus, regional powers as Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have launched aspirational government-based scholarship programs, aiming to educate the youth at the most developed countries who are supposed to share national values with foreign mates as well. The objective is to rise the sympathy of potential future government officials promoting remarkable features and updating contemporary presence of the five countries of Central Asia which should enable to win hearts and minds of the respective targeted ones.
It can be considered that improving the comprehension of Central Asian nations among EU personnel has the potential to cultivate more positive cooperation. This is because, when formulating and implementing decisions, they would be well-informed about the region, possess the relevant contacts, and be primed to seek support when needed. Moreover, it is equally important to consider the connectivity as a two-way street which requires also constant attention and enthusiasm from the EU’s policy agenda on supporting public diplomacy links for the incentive progress in multilateral relations.
Jalil Vokhidov, Highlight 5/2024 – Building Bridges between Central Asia and the European Union through Public Diplomacy, 26 January 2024, available at www.meig.ch
The views expressed in the MEIG Highlights are personal to the authors and neither reflect the positions of the MEIG Programme nor those of the University of Geneva.