Description
Rumer (Harvard U.) presents nine contributions surveying the social, economic, and social development of the Central Asian nations in recent times. The chapters tackle the problem from a thematic perspective, looking at developments from the perspectives of regional security, the geopolitical framework, the role of political Islam, and economic development potentials. The vastly expanded military presence of the United States in the region appears to have taken place after these analyses were written. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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The societies of Central Asia are besieged from within and without. The political elites - virtually unchanged despite the transition to independent statehood - battle radical Islamic movements and other oppositional threats that are continuously fueled by economic instability, corruption, environmental deterioration, and the collapse of social services. This survey of political, economic, and social development in Central Asia offers geopolitical context, unparalleled coverage, and analytical depth to our understanding of a region that appears to be rapidly spiraling into crisis.
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