THE SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION AS A TOOL FOR DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE TRADE CORRIDORS IN THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Abstract

This study examines the role of the SCO as a regional mechanism for developing sustainable trade corridors within the contemporary system of international relations. Employing a comparative and institutional approach, the research focuses on the Central Asian member states Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan as key participants in the SCO’s connectivity and sustainability agenda. The study integrates qualitative analysis of official documents, policy frameworks, and multilateral initiatives with empirical data on trade, infrastructure, and environmental performance. The findings demonstrate that the SCO has transformed from a security-oriented coalition into a multidimensional platform promoting economic integration, ecological modernization, and green logistics across Eurasia. The comparative analysis reveals asymmetries among member states but also a complementary regional pattern, wherein Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan act as infrastructural and policy leaders, while Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan contribute through transit and energy cooperation. A SWOT assessment highlights the SCO’s strengths in strategic geography, institutional inclusivity, and its expanding sustainability agenda, while also identifying weaknesses such as limited institutionalization and uneven environmental standards. The research concludes that the SCO serves as an emerging model of sustainable regionalism, capable of balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and geopolitical stability. It contributes to both theoretical and practical understanding of how regional organizations can advance sustainable globalization in a multipolar world