Revisiting SCO According to 3rd Generation of Regionalism Theories

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional organization established to build confidence among member states; fight terrorism, religious extremism and separatism; and to counteract the United States unilateralism in international system. China, Russia, and Central Asian countries (except Turkmenistan) are its members with Iran, India, Pakistan and Mongolia being observers. Shanghai Cooperation Organization is part of convergence process in Asia, but it was established under conditions different from regionalism in Asia. Regionalism in Asia can be explained within three generations of theories, including hegemonic regionalism, independent regionalism, and modern regionalism. This paper redefines SCO according to third-generation theories of regionalism.