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{
  "authors": [
    "Martha Brill Olcott"
  ],
  "type": "testimony",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
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  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
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  "regions": [
    "China",
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Source: Getty

Testimony

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Changing the Playing Field in Central Asia

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization lacks the power to effectively combat Central Asia's security threats, and the organization's economic mission remains ill-defined as Russia and China jockey for dominance in Central Asia's energy market.

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By Martha Brill Olcott
Published on Sep 26, 2006
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Russia and Eurasia

The Russia and Eurasia Program continues Carnegie’s long tradition of independent research on major political, societal, and security trends in and U.S. policy toward a region that has been upended by Russia’s war against Ukraine.  Leaders regularly turn to our work for clear-eyed, relevant analyses on the region to inform their policy decisions.

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Source: Testimony before the U.S. Helsinki Commission

Martha Brill Olcott testified at the Helsinki Commission's hearing on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Tuesday, September 26, 2006.  Dr. Olcott discussed the formation, substance and future of the SCO, arguing that it does not, as of yet, threaten US interests in the Region.  The organization lacks the capacity to effectively combat Central Asia’s security threats or to serve as a counter balance to NATO.  Furthermore, the economic mission of the SCO remains ill-defined as the two major powers, Russia and China, continue to jockey for position in Central Asia’s energy market.

Full text of the testimony is available in PDF format on the left.

About the Author

Martha Brill Olcott

Former Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Program and, Co-director, al-Farabi Carnegie Program on Central Asia

Olcott is professor emerita at Colgate University, having taught political science there from 1974 to 2002. Prior to her work at the endowment, Olcott served as a special consultant to former secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger.

    Recent Work

  • In The Media
    After Crimea: Will Kazakhstan be Next in Putin’s Reintegration Project?

      Martha Brill Olcott

  • Article
    China’s Unmatched Influence in Central Asia

      Martha Brill Olcott

Martha Brill Olcott
Former Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Program and, Co-director, al-Farabi Carnegie Program on Central Asia
Martha Brill Olcott
Political ReformMilitaryForeign PolicyChinaCentral AsiaKazakhstanKyrgyz RepublicCaucasusRussia

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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