Discourse and Complexities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The progress that the SCO has made over the years is definitely noteworthy and extremely significant. Though the organization has acquired an institutional framework, it has been narrowly focused and has a limited ability to shape the regional situation.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an inter-governmental international organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, by six countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. These six countries are the permanent member-states of the SCO and Russia and China are the organization’s main pillars. India, Pakistan, Mongolia, Iran and Afghanistan are observer-states and Belarus, Sri Lanka, and Turkey are dialogue partners. The SCO is celebrating its 10th anniversary and Russia is currently chairing the organization.

Russia hosted the 10th session of the SCO forum in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, in March 2015. SCO Secretary General Dmitry Mezentsev, during the SCO forum, said that “the Russian Presidency will provide all possible cooperation to the member-states and observer-states.” He also mentioned during his remarks that, “expansion of the SCO for full membership is possible; however, some more details need to be completed prior to that.” He emphasized that “all the members should look into the activities of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RAT) more carefully and its functioning should be more effective.” He also highlighted that “trade relations should be improved among member- and observer-states.” According to him, all SCO members should try to take advantage of the Eurasian Economic Union for improving trade and economic cooperation.

The current discourse on the SCO’s achievements is being watched by the strategic community in all the member- and observer-states. While some credit the SCO with increasing the stability and predictability of the regional situation, others consider the organization to be a mechanism for preserving the hegemony by the big powers. Nonetheless, opinions vary over the SCO’s existing international political and policy-oriented moves. It has been argued that, though the SCO is trying to promote itself as an independent regional organization and is showing readiness to work with all willing parties and other multilateral organizations, it still needs to strengthen its institutional structure, and there is a need to back ideas with adequate cooperation and support. It has been widely expressed that the SCO’s regional and macro-regional relevance need to be increased by actively engaging observer-states and dialogue partners, along with full members, in various SCO projects. This approach could enhance the SCO’s abilities and add value to its security, economic and infrastructure projects.

Recently, the organization has been implementing many significant projects, such as the Trans-Siberian-Baikal project, which is considered to be important for the SCO’s member-states, and much hope is therefore attached to this project. The permanent member-states are of the opinion that large multiparty projects should be encouraged. However, the timeline for completing such projects needs to be maintained. The discourse on implementing projects such as the Amur and Irtysh (hydropower projects) is very encouraging and considered beneficial by many in the region. For the past few years, the SCO has been seriously discussing building academic institutes under its umbrella. Therefore, the organization is trying to overcome certain hurdles to the formation of the SCO University and Research Foundation. The need for forming the SCO Bank is imminent. However, it is necessary to remove the differences as well as distrust among the permanent members over issues such as where the head office should be located and who will be the operational head.

Today, the SCO is trying to address regional security concerns jointly with all member- and observer-states. Hence, managing the complicated and volatile situation in Afghanistan has become a significant security concern for all SCO’s permanent members as well as observer-states, as Afghanistan’s immediate and more remote neighbors. Another emerging security concern is the Salafi movement (a current in Sunni Islam). This movement is propagating radical Islamist ideology and recently this has become very active in Tajikistan and is spreading to other neighbouring states. Hence, this needs to be controlled immediately to curb anti-national activities.

At present, when it comes to full membership, some feel India and Pakistan should be given full membership in the SCO while Russia is chairing the organization. Russia has been supporting the idea of including India as a full-fledged member of the SCO for many years now. India has also shown willingness to play a constructive role in the SCO and share its experiences and capacities. Some even feel including Iran as a full member should be carefully considered, though there are constraints due to the US Iran sanctions.

Though opinions on the issue of expansion and granting full membership vary, it is accepted by many that India, being an emerging power in the region with a growing economy and with its scientific and technical advancement, could add a lot of value to SCO. Despite numerous challenges, India considers SCO membership as an opportunity for expanding diplomatic relations with other regional countries and for addressing issues and concerns related to regional security. India can jointly address both traditional and non-traditional security concerns and cooperate in counter-terrorism activities. The views among policy makers are such that full membership in the SCO will provide India long-term benefit and more visibility in regional affairs. This would also increase India’s trade and possible energy cooperation with other SCO member and observer-states and would facilitate cooperation in reviving the silk route connectivity, thereby increasing people-to-people contact.

The progress that the SCO has made over the years is definitely noteworthy and extremely significant. Though the organization has acquired an institutional framework, it has been narrowly focused and has a limited ability to shape the regional situation. However, the organization has achieved some results in the areas of confidence-building and preventive diplomacy. The SCO is now entering a new stage of development with many complexities, thus requiring a qualitative transformation of its agenda. Today, the SCO faces several challenges, both in the near and long term, which stem from regional problems, neighborhood issues and macro-regional developments such as Afghanistan’s future, the rise of China, growing international competition in Central Asia, the asymmetry of interests within the SCO member-states, etc. All these issues and concerns need to be addressed jointly by maintaining the spirit of the SCO among all old as well as new members in order to progress steadily and smoothly.

Source: Input and information obtained by the author during the 10th SCO forum in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Views expressed are of individual Members and Contributors, rather than the Club's, unless explicitly stated otherwise.