Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- We are on the eve of an important, landmark event in 2023. The presidents of five countries will meet in Dushanbe for the fifth anniversary consultative meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia. Read more about the formation of pan-regional integration in the material of Alisher Sabirov, head of the department of the International Institute of Central Asia, and Erkin Baydarov, leading researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies named after. R. B. Suleymanov of the Science Committee of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

It will not be an exaggeration to say that the Central Asian summits, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev back in 2017, have become an effective platform for confidential, constructive discussion and solution of pressing problems of the region, and on the basis of good neighborliness, mutual trust and taking into account the interests of all Central Asian countries .

At the Dushanbe meeting of the heads of states of the region, the final declaration of the heads of state is expected to be signed, which will reflect the results of the work to transform Central Asia into a single space of cooperation with dynamically developing trade, investment and transport and communication potential.

However, one important issue remains that countries have yet to begin to resolve. We are talking about the formation of regional identity based on the historical, cultural and civilizational community of our region.

Identity is one of the most effective mobilization mechanisms that motivates people to collective action, so the relevance of this concept for political practice is beyond doubt.

In turn, regional identity is a complex and complex socio-political phenomenon, which is, firstly, a process of individuals’ perception of themselves. Secondly, this is the result of self-determination and self-awareness of the regional community at the mental, historical, sociocultural, economic, political, etc. levels.

The specificity of Central Asia lies in its unified historical and cultural space, which influenced the development of world civilization. Proof of this is the unique Turkic-Sogdian spiritual and cultural symbiosis, when the history of the Turks and Sogdians was closely intertwined and a process of cultural interaction between ancient Turkic-speaking and Iranian-speaking tribes took place. According to the German expert M. Kaiser, these elements of Central Asian integration should be used to develop national and transnational concepts of identity.

If we turn to the past of the region, we can see that the Great Silk Road, which even during times of hostilities did not stop its functioning, also served as an economic component of identity.

During the Samanid era, Central Asia turned into a regional center of Islamic civilization, where it was possible to unite the Turkic and Persian-Tajik peoples in a single space on the basis of religion.

In the second half of the 14th century, Amir Temur united, on the basis of a common identity, the nomadic and sedentary peoples of the region that were part of his empire, through a fair and constructive internal policy, raising the level of socio-economic well-being of the people, religion, culture and science.

In the Russian Empire, the Central Asian Jadids included in their ideology a moderate reformist concept of identity synthesis based on traditional value orientations and a new modern paradigm.

According to the Uzbek specialist B. Mustafayev, “the historical roots of the peoples of Central Asia, cultural, religious and linguistic community, as well as commitment to universal human values are the foundation for the states of the region to collectively respond to emerging problems, find effective ways to solve them and move together along the path of progress "

In this context, most foreign experts perceive the need for regional cooperation in Central Asia as an axiom. The famous Finnish geographer Ansi Paasi notes that a strong identity and a positive image are significant resources for regional development.

However, according to Kyrgyz researcher Zhuldyz Urmanbetova, the Central Asian region “has not yet taken advantage of the historical chance to actualize its identity.”

One of the main problems in constructing regional identity is that at the present stage of development, regional elites, in addition to creating and strengthening national institutions, are more engaged in the formation of national identity, which has acquired the path of reinterpretation of history.

At the same time, to paraphrase the modern Tajik philosopher, academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Tajikistan Akbar Turson, “politically premature and morally immature” Central Asian nationalism “already at the very beginning of the independent development of the countries of the region began to clearly degrade “into the ideology of self-deprecating subethnicism, which acquired a locally pathological form.”

Without questioning the importance of national identity, at the same time, in the context of deglobalization challenges, it is important to form a regional identity of the countries of Central Asia, since, as noted by the famous ideologist of the struggle for freedom and independence of the United Turkestan Mustafa Shokay (M. Chukay), “the historical roots of the peoples of the region culture, traditions and customs are also united, therefore for them there must be a single socio-political ideal - a single and indivisible region with common material and spiritual values.”

Heated discussions at a number of international scientific forums indicate that when forming the regional identity of the countries of Central Asia, it is necessary, first of all, to rely on research into the historical roots of Central Asian identity, analysis of the role of economic, political and sociocultural integration, research into the impact of modern challenges on the process of regionalization of Central Asia, etc.

The program for building a modern regional identity, as part of a broader modernization program, should use as a means of mobilization not ethnocratic, but sociocultural traditions that largely coincide with similar traditions of other peoples. Among them are collectivist principles, family and moral values, the foundations of mutual tolerance, built on the principles of intergroup solidarity. This will ensure not only regional, but also internal political consolidation of society.

An important element in the implementation of regional identity should be the formation of a new political and managerial elite, capable of thinking not only in national, but also in general regional categories.

It is necessary to actively use the capabilities of the scientific and creative intelligentsia in the civil sector of the Central Asian states. It is they who must promote the idea of regional identity from below. A radically new cultural policy in the region, initiated by the governments of Central Asian countries, is needed. Involving intellectual elites in dialogue will help restore awareness of the historical unity of the peoples of the region.

At the expert meeting “Central Asia - 2030: Images of the Future,” Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (ISRS) Eldor Aripov noted: “Our goal should be to build a model of sustainable and multi-level ties, built not only on common interests, but also common values shared by all , traditions. Each of us should feel not only like a representative of our country, but also of the region as a whole, and be proud of our common cultural and historical heritage.”

Thus, the formation of regional identity is a path to new ideas regarding regional integration, which, in turn, will expand our understanding of its possibilities.

Head of Department of the International Institute of Central Asia Alisher Sabirov