Institutionalization of Chinese Regionalism in Central Asia: The Case of the “China–Central Asia” Mechanism

The subject of this article is the “China – Central Asia” mechanism as an institutionalized practice of Chinese regionalism. Amid deepening globalization, the regional dimension of China’s foreign policy is gaining increasing importance. Chinese regionalism, oriented toward building a “community with a shared future,” is no longer confined to trade and economic integration; it also emphasizes the cognitive dimension of cooperation and the construction of regional identity. Central Asia, as a neighboring and geostrategically important region, has become a key space for this practice, and the “China – Central Asia” mechanism is its most effective example. The aim of the study is to determine the role of this mechanism as an institutional practice in the diffusion of norms and the construction of identity, and to identify its driving and constraining factors. The methodology relies on qualitative approaches, including case analysis, macro-level process analysis, text analysis, and discourse analysis based on political leaders’ speeches. The study’s academic novelty lies in applying new regionalism theory and social constructivism, which make it possible to conceptualize an international mechanism as an important arena in which, through institutionalized procedures and cooperation, the socialization of norms is advanced and the formation of regional identity is stimulated. In addition, the perspective of “normative power” is introduced to analyze the instruments through which China expands its regional influence, thereby moving beyond traditional geopolitical or economic approaches. The article concludes that China’s shaping of regional identity relies largely on normative persuasion reinforced by material power, as well as on a top-down construction of a sense of community. In this process, the mechanism facilitates norm diffusion and the formation of a sense of community by institutionalizing the idea of a “community with a shared future” and the norms associated with it, ensuring regular formats of interaction, and demonstrating practical outcomes of cooperation that enhance their persuasiveness. At the same time, the promoted norms and the community concept, driven by interests, find a certain degree of acceptance among Central Asian elites, yet face both internal and external constraints. Finally, the conclusion notes that China seeks to strengthen its regional influence through “normative power” and, on this basis, increases its investment in soft power in order to compensate for a deficit of broader public recognition.