Description
Book SynopsisAfter twenty-five years of independence, there is little doubt that the five Central Asian states will persist as sovereign, independent states. They increasingly differ from each other, and are making their way in global politics. No longer connected only to Russia, they are now connected in important ways to Afghanistan, South Asia, China, Iran, and each other. This volume covers a wide range of issues and presents the work of emerging scholars authors well-known for their expertise in the region. The first part addresses social issues. Covering a wide range from HIV/AIDs to social media, the rebirth of Islam, outmigration, and problematic borders, this section follows two main currents: political development in the region and states' responses to transboundary challenges. The second part, addressing economics and security, provides analyses of new infrastructure, informal economies (from bazaars to criminal networks), energy development, the role of enclaves in the Ferghana Valley,
Trade ReviewThis is a comprehensive, expertly written and well-documented book on the complex and multifaceted policies of Central Asia. Twenty-one scholars—the best in the field—provide a fascinating account of the rivalries and tensions, the friendships and enmities, the areas of cooperation and the potential for conflict among this group of countries. Both academic and lay readers will find the volume accessible and informative. -- Gawdat Bahgat, National Defense University
This book is an excellent introduction to an historic and increasingly strategic region of the world to which the United States should pay greater attention. The essays cover all the key issues: geopolitics, international relations, security, economic development, social and cultural challenges, and natural resources, especially the vast hydrocarbon deposits of the Caspian basin. From my own twenty years of experience representing the United States in Central Asia, I can tell you that this book gets it right. -- Richard E. Hoagland
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Central Asia in an Era of Sovereignty: The Return of Tamerlane? Daniel L. Burghart and Theresa Sabonis-Helf Part I: Social Issues Chapter 1: The Borderlands Paradox: Framing Central Asia’s Current Economic and Security Challenges, Vivian Walker Chapter 2: Legal Reform in Central Asia: Moving Past History, Roger D. Kangas Chapter 3: Human Rights and Governance in Central Asia, Mariya Y. Omelicheva Chapter 4: HIV/AIDS Responses in Central Asia, Svetlana Ancker Chapter 5: Sorting Central Asia Social Media, Stacie L. Giles Chapter 6: The Evolution of the IMU and its Communication Strategy: Public Relations or Survival? Sebastien Peyrouse Chapter 7: Brain Waste? Integration of Central Asian and Georgian Labor Migrants in the United States, Saltanat Liebert Part II: Economics and Security Chapter 8: One Belt One Road: Realizing the “China Dream” in Central Asia? Yuhao Du Chapter 9: Infrastructure and the Political Economies of Central Asia, Theresa Sabonis-Helf Chapter 10: Great Game Changers? The Changing Nature of Central Asian Energy, Daniel L. Burghart Chapter 11: Multilateral Engagement with Central Asia on Energy Issues, Richard Wheeler Chapter 12: Kazakhstan’s Bazaar Economy: A Second-Best Institution, Dena Sholk Chapter 13: The Fifth Estate: Illicit Networks in Central Asia, Elena Kovalova Chapter 14: Problematic Puzzle Pieces: Enclaves and Conflict in the Ferghana Valley, Timothy Rowe Chapter 15: The Security Forces, Robert Timm Part III: Case Studies Chapter 16: Kazakhstan’s Dilemma on Eurasian and Central Asian Integration, Marlene Laruelle Chapter 17: Kyrgyzstan’s Experiments with Democracy, Erica Marat Chapter 18: Tajikistan’s Roghun Dam: Understanding Rahmon’s “Palace of Light,” Theresa Sabonis-Helf Chapter 19: Foreign Direct Investment in the Oil & Gas Sector of Turkmenistan, Sophia Srinivasan Chapter 20: Everyday Governance in Post-Soviet Uzbekistan, Laura Adams, Måns Svensson, and Rustamjon Urinboyev
