This book offers a diverse range of perspectives on the socio-economic development of Central Asia that challenges the current neoliberal development narratives. By examining three decades of market-oriented reforms, foreign investment, and international aid strategies rooted in Western economic orthodoxy, it reviews the socio-economic outcomes of the region to highlight areas of growth, as well as drivers of inequality, environmental degradation, political authoritarianism, and natural resource dependence. Particular attention is given to sustainability and ecological economics, postcolonial development, indigenous knowledge systems, and social welfare economics. 

This book seeks to combat the limitations of post-Soviet socio-economic policy within Central Asia by offering alternative paths to development that are more sustainable and tailored to the region’s unique characteristics. It will be relevant to students, researchers, and policymakers interested in heterodox approaches to development. 

Kuat B. Akizhanov is a Deputy Director of the CAREC Institute in Urumqi and a Visiting Lecturer at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. He has previously held positions at the University of Birmingham and University of Bath, and is an author of Finance Capitalism and Income Inequality in the Contemporary Global Economy, published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2023.

Serik Beimenbetov is Associate Professor and Vice-President for Research and Innovation at the Kazakh-German University. He has previously held teaching and research positions at the American University of Central Asia and the University of Central Asia. He obtained his PhD in Political Science from the University of Exeter and holds an MA in Political Science and History from the University of Freiburg.