Political, Economic Aspects and Prospects of Tajikistan's Integration Policy

Abstract

The article reveals the debatable topic of analyzing the balance of political, economic costs and benefits when choosing a responsible integration decision on Tajikistan's entry into the Eurasian Economic Union. The official positions of the government, expert opinions of supporters, skeptics and opponents of the country's participation in the economic union are considered. The argumentation about the adoption by the leadership of Tajikistan of a responsible political decision ensuring further socio-economic modernization of the country as part of the Eurasian Economic Union is substantiated. On May 29, 2014, the Presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan signed an agreement on the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Armenia joined the EAEU on January 2, 2015, and Kyrgyzstan on May 8. It seemed obvious that in the political and economic elites of the Republic of Tajikistan, the understanding of long-term economic and political benefits will prevail, their predominance over short-term risks of reducing customs and tax revenues, and the country will become the next member of this integration union. However, the leadership of the Republic of Tatarstan did not take the initiative to join the EAEU. For 8 years, the possible membership of the Republic of Tajikistan in the EAEU has been actively discussed in the scientific, expert community and the media, but the government structures of the Republic of Tajikistan have actually stopped in the integration movement, justifying this by the need for a deeper consideration of national interests, a detailed calculation of benefits and risks when joining the economic union. Let's agree that the analysis of the balance of political and economic benefits and costs is really necessary for making strategic development decisions.