Understanding Central Asia ─ Politics and Contested Transformations

Since Soviet collapse, the independent republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have faced tremendous political, economic, and security challenges. Focusing on these five republics, this textbook analyzes the contending understandings of the politics of the past, present and future transformations of Central Asia, including its place in international security and world politics. Analysing the transformation that independence has brought and tracing the geography, history, culture, identity, institutions and economics of Central Asia, it locates ‘the political’ in the region.

A comprehensive examination of the politics of Central Asia, this insightful book is of interest both to undergraduate and graduate students of Asian Politics, Post-Communist Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations, and to scholars and professionals in the region.

Sally N. Cummings teaches in the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, UK, where she is also Founding Director of the Institute of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Caucasus Studies. Her publications include Sovereignty After Empire (co-ed., 2011); Symbolism and Power in Central Asia (ed., Routledge 2010); Kazakhstan (2005) and Oil, Transition and Security in Central Asia (ed., Routledge 2003).

1. Introduction 2. The Region of Central Asia: What’s in a Name? 3. Empires, Soviet Rule and Sovereignty 4. Authoritarian Alternatives 5. Islam, Nation and Multiple Identities in Central Asia 6. Economics and Political Transformations 7. Securing Central Asia 8. Conclusion: State of the State in Central Asia