Drawing on an English School approach, this chapter argues that in Central Asia there is less than a liberal would hope for, but more than a realist would think. Instead of being hopelessly marked by competition as a Hobbesian state of nature, or representing an integrated region resting on liberal principles, Central Asia is akin to a society of states, relying on specific norms and institutions and aiming at achieving and maintain coexistence. By adopting a constructivist epistemology and a socio-structural framework of analysis, this chapter maintains that the institutions of sovereignty, diplomacy, international law, authoritarianism, and great power management provide the region with a degree order and stability often neglected by other International Relations (IR) approaches, thus providing a more fine-grained account of Central Asian regional politics.