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

{
  "authors": [
    "Martha Brill Olcott"
  ],
  "type": "testimony",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "russia",
  "programs": [
    "Russia and Eurasia"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "China",
    "Central Asia",
    "Kazakhstan",
    "Kyrgyz Republic",
    "Caucasus",
    "Russia"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Military",
    "Foreign Policy"
  ]
}

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.

By Martha Brill Olcott

Published on Sep 26, 2006

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

Political Reform Military Foreign Policy China Central Asia Kazakhstan Kyrgyz Republic Caucasus Russia

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.

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
As It Turns 25, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Reflects the New World Order
With the growth in points of friction between the great powers, organizations like the SCO will continue to play a role in the strategic adaptation of the smaller powers caught between them.
Temur Umarov
Commentary
Emissary
The Two Key Takeaways From Xi’s Egypt Visit
Amid celebrations of bilateral ties was a deeper focus on stability in the Middle East.
Amr Hamzawy
Commentary
Strategic Europe
Taking the Pulse: Is Canada Leading a Third Way?
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has twice inspired praise for standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump: at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos and on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. Is Carney showing a third way better than the EU has in dealing with the Trump administration?
Rym Momtaz, ed.
Article
In Russia’s Long Drone Shadow
Moscow is testing Europe’s defenses with drone incursions and could decide to use drones against the continent on a much larger scale once the war in Ukraine pauses. European countries will need Kyiv to help them prepare for such a possibility.
Pavlo Zvenyhorodskyi
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
How the Kremlin Turned Tech Whiz-Kid VK Into a Loss-Making State Corporation
The war in Ukraine and a change in ownership led VK to neglect its commercial ventures in favor of implementing the Kremlin’s online agenda. Now it’s been sanctioned by the EU.
Maria Kolomychenko

More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

As It Turns 25, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Reflects the New World Order

With the growth in points of friction between the great powers, organizations like the SCO will continue to play a role in the strategic adaptation of the smaller powers caught between them.

Temur Umarov

People dancing in the foreground, with a group of people in suites watching and an Air China plane in the background

Commentary

Emissary

The Two Key Takeaways From Xi’s Egypt Visit

Amid celebrations of bilateral ties was a deeper focus on stability in the Middle East.

Amr Hamzawy

Commentary

Strategic Europe

Taking the Pulse: Is Canada Leading a Third Way?

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has twice inspired praise for standing up to U.S. President Donald Trump: at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos and on Canada-U.S. trade negotiations. Is Carney showing a third way better than the EU has in dealing with the Trump administration?

Rym Momtaz, ed.

UAV Forpost of russian air force takes off at Kubinka air force base

Article

In Russia’s Long Drone Shadow

Moscow is testing Europe’s defenses with drone incursions and could decide to use drones against the continent on a much larger scale once the war in Ukraine pauses. European countries will need Kyiv to help them prepare for such a possibility.

Pavlo Zvenyhorodskyi

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

How the Kremlin Turned Tech Whiz-Kid VK Into a Loss-Making State Corporation

The war in Ukraine and a change in ownership led VK to neglect its commercial ventures in favor of implementing the Kremlin’s online agenda. Now it’s been sanctioned by the EU.

Maria Kolomychenko