The New States Of Central Asia And Their Neighbours

In Central Asia, hope and anxiety have alternated since the collapse of the Soviet Union. On the one hand the peoples of Central Asia are now closer to being masters of their destiny than at any time this century. On the other hand the civil war in Tajikistan is a constant reminder of the fragility of ethnic relations in the region as a whole. Meanwhile other states, especially neighbouring ones, look on nervously.

A comprehensive study of one of the most feared - but least understood - international Islamist organizations in post-Soviet Central Asia: Hizb ut-Tahrir. Using primary sources and first-hand accounts it analyses its leadership, ideology, political methodology and party structure, and its future relationship to violence in this key region.

Throughout history, Central Asia has formed an important strategic link between the East and the West and been described as the ‘great pivot’ in the early-twentieth century. This book looks at the relations between the Central Asian states and major external powers. It shows how these nations have kept the fragile geopolitics of the region free of the so-called ‘New Great Game’. The volume evaluates the roles of major powers such as Russia, United States, China, Iran, and Turkey, as well as India and its ‘Silk Road Strategy’. It also compares the regional geopolitics of Central Asia with its neighbour Caucasus. The study indicates how, despite limited inter-state cooperation, the region has prevented conflicts and wars, due to which these states have been able to enjoy greater strategic autonomy in their dealings with other countries. The book will benefit scholars and researchers of international relations, political and strategic studies, area studies, and Central Asian studies apart from the interested general reader.

This collection with its special focus on Central Asia, the Causuces and Russia combines the theoretical approach with analytical and empirical approaches. The book is the first to apply concepts like security complexes, alliances, regionalism and integration on the Commonwealth of Independent States. It offers analyses and evaluations of foreign policy and security policy in CIS' states, and of the regional powers, the question of oil and gas, as well as the role of EBRD.

A seminal introduction to the rise of Central Asia following the collapse of Tsarist Russia, this book has been out of print for two decades and is now more relevent than ever. The Resurgence of Central Asia is Ahmed Rashid’s seminal study of the states that emerged in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All have Muslim majorities and ancient histories but are otherwise very different. Rashid’s book, now with a new introduction by the author examining some of the crucial political developments since its first publication in 1994, provides entrée to this little-known but geopolitically important region. Rashid gives a history of each country, including its incorporation into Tsarist Russia, to the present day, provides basic socioeconomic information, and explains the diverse political situations. He focuses primarily on the underlying issues confronting these societies: the legacy of Soviet rule, ethnic tensions, the position of women, the future of Islam, the question of nuclear proliferation, and the fundamental choices over economic strategy, political system, and external orientation that lie ahead.

This volume identifies and elaborates on the significance and functions of the various actors involved in the development of family law in the Middle East. Besides the importance of family law regulations for each individual, family law has become the battleground of political and social contestation. Divided into four parts, the collection presents a general overview and analysis of the development of family law in the region and provides insights into the broader context of family law reform, before offering examples of legal development realised by codification drawn from a selection of Gulf states, Iran, and Egypt. It then goes on to present a thorough analysis of the role of the judiciary in the process of lawmaking, before discussing ways the parties themselves may have shaped and do shape the law. Including contributions from leading authors of Middle Eastern law, this timely volume brings together many isolated aspects of legal development and offers a comprehensive picture on this topical subject. It will be of interest to scholars and academics of family law and religion.