Eurasia Outlook 2020: Economic, Social and Political Perspectives in Eurasia
The COVID-19 pandemic that started in 2020 has affected all areas of life worldwide, bringing many changes. In brief, countries were put to great test, particularly their healthcare systems, economic structures and relations with other countries. During this period, millions of people were affected negatively in various ways. In the meantime, we are closelyfollowing the prospectiveconsequences of the vaccine studies on the course of this pandemic. While everybody is trying to adapt to the “new normal”conditions of living during the pandemic, the Eurasian region continues to witness many developments from economy to politics, from transportation projects to social issues. The possible effects of the newly elected US President Biden’s attitude towards China on global economy, the political changes in Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, the strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the European Union and Central Asian countries can be shown among these important developments.
On the other hand, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the performance and initiatives of the countries in the region attracted wide attention, which was duly reflected in the academic processes administered via online platforms. Despite the fact that the transportation projects carried out by China and Central Asian countries have been halted for a while due to the pandemic, their implementation resumed relatively quickly. In this context, it is predicted that the “Silk Visa” initiative launched by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan can facilitate positive development in the post-pandemic period.
The examination of all the events that took place during the last year by the academicians devoted to the study of the Eurasian region, provides to readers, experts and decision makers interested in the region outstanding analysis and reliable information. In this regard, I would like to congratulate Dr. Vakur Sümer, the Director of the Eurasian Research Institute the editors, writers and all the staff, , who contributed to the preparation of the book, which is the sixth of the “Eurasian Outlook” series.
