Özet:

This study examines regional security relations in Central Asia and Shanghai Cooperation Organization which was emerged as a result of the security interdependence of regional states within the framework of the theory of regional security complexes. Meanwhile, it re-evaluates the theory of regional security complexes based on regional security dimensions in Central Asia. The regional security complexes theory, developed by Barry Buzan and Ole Waever, set out by the assumption that the geographical proximity is the strongest factor on security interaction. Accordingly, security issues of states in a region cannot be understood separate from each other. Central Asian states constitute a distinct regional security complex in terms of their own security relations and security interdependence that differentiates them from surrounding regions. Also, Russia and China as two great powers sharing borders with this region penetrates into the Central Asian security complex and that makes Central Asian regional security complex a bipolar great power security complex. This article argues that Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a regional security community in which all these regional security dynamics have been institutionalized. However, in accordance with the assumptions of the regional security complexes theory, in time both Central Asian regional security complex and Shanghai Cooperation Organization may transform or its external boundary may contract or expand. Indeed, as a result of memberships of India and Pakistan to Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2017, such a case has occurred. Therefore, in the last part of the article, possible future transitions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization that initially emerged from the security interdependence of the Central Asian states are discussed based on assumptions of regional security complexes theory.