| By: |
Rainer Schweickert, Inna Melnykovska , Hedwig Plamper |
| Abstract: |
Russia and China are assumed to challenge democratization and to promote
autocracy. In a first step, we analyze Central Asia as the most-likely case,
considering both Russia and China as relevant external actors. We develop a
concept for our analysis based on the different strategies of Russia
(dominance) and China (doing-business) towards the region and present the
results of a qualitative study of the main dimensions of autocracy promotion
with respect to regional and bilateral schemes. In a second step, we extend a
previous framework (Melnykovska and Schweickert 2011) and provide econometric
evidence based on a panel of post-socialist countries. We show that bilateral
schems are (still) more relevant for external influences in Central Asia and
that (unintentionally) China’s doing-business approach may in fact promote
institutional change. Arguably, democratization should not be a precondition
for cooperation as in European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) but rather be
promoted by sweeping economic cooperation incentives |
| Keywords: |
Central Asia, China, Russia, Governance, Regional Integration, Trade, Minorities, Military Threat |
| JEL: |
F53 F59 |
| Date: |
2012–03 |
| URL: |
http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:kie:kieliw:1763&r=cis |