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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.

As an introductory text, "Understanding Central Asia" presents students with the basic knowledge of the history, politics and international relations of Central Asia. Sally Cummings explores the domestic and foreign politics of the five independent states of post-Soviet Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This accessible text is arranged thematically and covers key issues such as: history; state and nation-building; the role of Islam; economic and political reform; relations with the South, particularly Afghanistan, India and Pakistan; and relations with Russia and the geopolitical role of Central Asia post-September 11th.