The aim of the paper is to analyze the factors that affect education demand with regard to gender differences and determine main determinants of education demand. In this study, beyond the relation between education and welfare, by showing the effect of demographic and socio-psychological characteristics of the households on education demand, it is expected to contribute to the development of education policy. The data is taken from Turkish Statistical Institute’s Household Budget Survey for 2014 and policy recommendations are developed by comparing the results of ordered probit model with marginal effects with the findings in literature.

Keywords: Education demand, gender, ordered probit model, education demand, welfare
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Many studies have examined the relation between political stability and economic performance. Despite the long-lasting academic debate on this issue, there is no consensus on this relation. Political instability which is defined as the deviations from normal pattern or a change or challenge to the current political governance and economic growth are mainly interrelated. Many empirical studies show that weak economic performance is likely to deteriorate the political decision making process and may lead to emergence of macroeconomic imbalances. The aim of this paper is to examine the causal association between economic development and political stability by employing panel data analysis for members of Turkic council (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey) for the period 2005-2014. Since there are not many econometric studies to analyze the relation between political stability and economic performance of Turkic nations, this study contributes to the limited literature.

Keywords: Turkic council, political stability, economic development, panel data analysis, governance
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In recent years, the Central Asian Turkic Republics have started to become centers of attraction for the foreign direct investments of multinational companies. In the literature, it is a matter of debate whether the relocation of multinational companies with low environmental standards increases environmental pollution associated with foreign direct investments. In this context, this study aims to investigate the relationship between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and foreign direct investments in the Central Asian Turkic Republics. For that purpose, a panel co-integration test was applied to the CO2 emission rate and foreign direct investment data in six Turkic Republics (Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) in the period between 1995-2016. The long-term co-integration coefficients of variables were examined with the panel dynamic least squares method across the panel. The empirical estimation results demonstrate that foreign direct investments and CO2 emissions have a long-term positive and significant relationship.

Keywords: pollution haven hypothesis, foreign direct investments, Turkic republics, panel data analysis, CO2 emissions
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After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan confronted a number of serious internal and external security threats and challenges of political, military, economic, ethnic, religious and social nature, some of which have materialized or expired during the subsequent 27 years, while others still persist or are looming on the horizon. In this analytical article, the author reviews the main perceived regional security threats and challenges in Central Asia that can be categorized in several ways, but whatever classification is used it is important to understand that they are interrelated and influence each other. As many existing security threats have a transnational nature, the Central Asian states need to pool together their limited resources to effectively address them.

Keywords: Central Asia, Regional Security, Afghanistan, Russia, China, Terrorism, Transnational Crime, Regional Cooperation
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In forty years of reform and implementation of open economy policies, great changes have taken place in China. With the country’s high engagement with the world, it became obvious that China did not isolate itself from the global developments. The rapid growth of China’s economy and the country’s growing ties with the rest of the world necessitates the development of new concepts and approaches in the Chinese diplomacy. China’s emerging role in the international arena triggers a change in current international political environment and causes further rebalancing of multipolar system. Therefore, strengthening multilateral cooperation with the other regional powers and international organizations provides suitable atmosphere for development. The study explores the key factors of interest for China in Central Asian states from the point of view of implementing its outside economic strategies.

Keywords: China, Central Asia, SCO, BRI, Foreign Policy
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Neera Handa, Education for Sustainability through Internationalisation: Transnational Knowledge Exchange and Global Citizenship (Palgrave Studies in Global Citizenship Education and Democracy) Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 245 pp. The goal of sustainable higher education is to prepare responsible global citizens with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed in the 21st century. ...

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Geoffrey F. Gresh (Ed.), Eurasia’s Maritime Rise and Global Security from the Indian Ocean to Pacific Asia and the Arctic Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 303 pp. This book explores growing importance of Eurasian continent and of its maritime geography with a special focus on accelerating climate change. The melting of the Arctic Ocean would bring fundamental changes in the region’s economics, politics and security. The book is intended to describe the development of the maritime Eurasia in the context of the opening of the northern sea route and rising Asian economies. ...

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