Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: An Anti-Western Alignment?

Abstract

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is often portrayed as attempting to counter the increasing Western presence in Central Asia. However, as far as the member states are concerned, its main purpose is the management of intra-state and transnational security issues that its leaders regard as threats to the stability of their respective regimes. While the SCO is of limited military relevance, its economic potential is a source of interest for both its member states and states in surrounding regions. Taking into account the growing importance of the SCO to the region, the West should not exclude a priori the idea of selective cooperation with the SCO on common security interests.