Written by Laurence Brahm - Published by Hongkong Culture on 01/05/2007

Could there be any better brand for promoting tourism than the “Silk Road”? It captures imagination of everyone Asian and Eastern, as this roadway once connected our worlds. Actually, there is nothing new about globalization. We underestimate too poorly the power of integration which dominated the 9th-13th centuries with Central Asia as the link between China, the Middle East and Europe. It was in Central Asia, mystically ringing with names of cities like Samarkand and Bukhara were science, mathematics and arts flourished and advanced as Europe sunk into dark ages.

Such Silk Road branding occurred last October when the first international conference in five years was held in Uzbekistan, breaking ice on an idea frozen all too long. Negative and often unfair foreign media portrayal of this region with images fundamentalism and violence – often in isolated cases – smothers some of the world’s most spectacular architectural treasures, spectacular scenery and warmest human hospitality from foreign visitation.

No wonder, under tight surveillance and near spastic security, the Declaration by Tashkent Forum of Silk road Cities was read on 27 October, 2006. Attended by mayors representing cities like Xining, Lanzhou, Islamabad and Tashkent with representatives from Almaty and Tehran, formal speeches gave way to swirling central Asian dancers almost floating on silk. Yes, for two days it seemed as if the cities dotting the Silk Road in many of the more isolated, disregarded, and misunderstood parts of the world, were anticipating a reconnection.

“We are confident that peace and development are closely interwoven and that challenges related to improving living standards, development and equity always remain relevant to the global community,” stated the Tashkent Declaration. “To address such challenges related to improving living standards, development and equity always remain relevant to the global community. To address such challenges, it is necessary to continue working on the development and realization of a strategy and programs which would allow the well-being of the population to improve and lead to harmonious regional development.”

Sound like a mouthful? But maybe it represents a fresh approach to addressing underdevelopment. “This is designed to create a platform from which to let people of this region move ahead,” explained Khalid Malik, United Nations Chief Representative to China, who chaired the forum. “Fundamentally the 9th-13th centuries were the golden era of the Silk Road characterized by free exchanges of ideas and religious philosophies together with commodities. It was a time of great prosperity. For renewed prosperity of people along the Silk Road openness is needed. Their cultural diversity should be seen as strength not weakness. Through this Silk Road Initiative we are creating a new community based on this diversity.

It is a revival of the cultural spirit of this region through tourism and sustainable development of crafts and products which would catalyst economic development.

This is nobody more qualified to speak on this subject. When Malik walks through the sandy, labyrinthine bazaars of Uzbekistan during conference breaks, many craftsmen look from their delicate workmanship recognizing him from nine years ago. One after another craftsmen step from stalls embracing Malik. A blacksmith is ebullient showing how his shop has expanded. A spice merchant offers cardamom flavored coffee from his home turned teahouse. In each small private craft household shop hangs a UNDP certificate recognizing their contribution to Uzbekistan’s national heritage, personally signed by Malik when he served as UN representative to the country nine years ago.

With this umbrella of international protection Uzbekistan’s craftsmen were able to revive their traditions using private enterprise to sustain livelihood and growth in an environment where the state sought to retain control out of security fears. Malik dared to created a positive environment for private business in an environment where state control and a history of Soviet central policy planning had all but eliminated making economically unfeasible the traditional rafts which represent the richness of this region. Through a little big of encouragement to the craftsmen and some rational policy advice to government, the traditions not only re-emerged but have flourished since. Malik initiative communities of craftsmen working and selling their art in the ruins of ancient Madrahas courtyards throughout ancient cities like Bukhara and Samarakand.

“You cannot have sustainable peace without sustainable development,” Malik warns. “People need jobs, better education, careers. History has taught you need development efforts for that to happen.” Malik explains while carefully assessing the knot weave on a restored antique tribal carpet indicating to the weaver-cum-retailer where improvement can be made for a tourist market which has not yet happened. “Demonstrate to people they can invest in their future. Give people a new sense of hope. Provide goals people can reach.”

This more realistic approach sensitive to local conditions and culture stands in stark contrast to regional re-engineering experiments – Afghanistan is a point case – where theoretic cookie cutter models imposed external systems upon countries inappropriately. Where such cultures simply do not connect, imposition of alien systems will find rejection. Violence and social breakdown follow. There is little room to talk core economics, the foundation necessary to begin developing social structures upon which practical political progress can begin.

The first regional Forum of Silk Road cities known as the Tashkent Forum sought to lay foundations for integrating economic interests of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan under the UN umbrella. Representative of UNDP, UNCTAD and UNWTO attended. Hardcore issues remaining as obstacles to cooperation had to be addressed. Proposals for multi-country visa recognition (like Europe’s Shengan arrangement) were proposed to ease border difficulties. A collective ‘Silk Road’ re-branding of this region maligned by negative mainstream media was presented and advice from advisors participating from Hong Kong sought. The need to bring together private-public sector interests was argued as key to progress. In some ways a softer, more holistic development model was proposed with cooperation not confrontation as its core principle, to assure long-term security through coordinated economic development not violent repression.

Through Malik’s work are we finding a new formula to a sustainable future? Some ask whether the Washington consensus on development is now dead or whether it is time for a new Silk Road consensus? Malik just shrugs, “I think it is time for an East-West consensus instead.”

Laurence Brahm is a global activist, international mediator, political columnist and author. He is the leading advocate of a fresh development paradigm - The Himalayan Consensus - an innovative approach to development.

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