Since its foundation, even though EurAsEC has been recruiting an increasing number
of countries, it is not making progress toward real integration. The main reason is that the
countries are afraid of being excluded from integration and therefore keep establishing
or joining various integration organizations to avoid possible prejudice. Thus, an “infection”
of integration has been triggered (Baldwin 1993). In addition, the countries have
not taken effective measures to deepen their integration, that is, the integration among
them is a result of government promotion rather than the market-based division of labor.
Such integration does not readily form large-market effects and cannot bring about more
benefits for the member countries. Uzbekistan joined EurAsEC and then resigned from
it within two years for many reasons. One important reason was that the integration
organization did not play a crucial part in promoting Uzbekistan’s economy