No. 152: CSTO and SCO

Author(s): Alica Kizekova, Richard Weitz
Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Issue: 152
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, George Washington University
Publication Year: 2014

This edition focuses on two regional security organizations of which Russia is a key member. Firstly, Richard Weitz examines the Collective Security Treaty Organization(CSTO). He suggests that while there has been an expansion of its defense capabilities, legal mandate and range of missions in recent years, the CSTO faces major challenges in coming years, including Afghanistan, a lack of democratic legitimacy, the impact of the Ukraine crisis and a possible expansion of the Eurasian Unions mandate. Secondly, Alica Kizekova considers the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). She outlines that although its members seem to agree that the most promising arena for cooperation is the socio-economic sphere, its primary challenge lies in ensuring regional stability and security at the same time as its individual member states balance their interests upon various regional chessboards.

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