Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the dynamics of economic integration in the far east

This thesis is focused on an overview "Shanghai Cooperation Organization and Dynamics of Economic Cooperation in the Far-East". It portrays and examines the main essence and elements shaping Shanghai Cooperation and economic dynamics in the Far East. Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is mostly centered on key aspect like such as terrorism, separatism, and extremism so as to effectively administer its region. The thesis is divided into five chapters, with the first chapter providing a short introduction of the thesis. The second chapter deals with the conceptual framework, thus defining important key terms like; Shanghai Cooperation, Dynamics, Economic Cooperation, Fars East, and Cooperation, and also gives a theoretical framework. Chapter three is centered on the historical framework. This chapter explains the evolutions of SCO and its transformation of functions, aspiring members, China's role and interest in SCO, the oil and gas politics, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Chapter four outlines the SCO and its dynamics of trade in the Far East. This chapter covers most of the hard core of this thesis, and focused on topics such as; the maintenance of domestic stability and territorial integrity, attitude of other nations toward SCO, the transformation of Shanghai five to Shanghai Cooperation Organization, areas of economic cooperation, competition, and economic institution, business council, SCO inter-bank association, the influence of SCO in economic development and trade dynamics, economic cooperation inside SCO, SCO as an umbrella for economic cooperation, Cooperation in energy areas, and China as a major core for trade and investment. There are some challenges faced by the organization. This includes the fact that there are diverging interests among the SCO members. National interests are deeper among the member states than common a regional interest that provides strong impetus driving economic cooperation and development. While the organization has been able to found institutions to boost regional integration efforts, major power rivalry –the issue of core and periphery—among Russia and China, with the former seeking security interest by using the organization as a platform, the latter seeking economic interest by using the SCO as a new export market for its goods. One major area which is share by all however is security. In one way or the other, security is considered a common interest though not by all members. Some still prefer their national interest when it comes to the issue. For instance, deep rifts between India and Pakistan, and Iran's support of some hard line groups. The last chapter is the conclusion, which provides an overview of this thesis and possible recommendations. Keywords: SCO, Institutions, integration, economy, trade, Far-East, security, soft power, dynamics, terrorism, separatism, extremism