The Transformation of Central Asia: States and Societies from Soviet Rule to Independence
Editorial Reviews
Book Description
With the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, former Communist Party leaders in Central Asia were faced with the daunting task of building states where they previously had not existed -- Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Their task was complicated by the institutional and ideological legacy of the Soviet system as well as by a more actively engaged international community. These nascent states inherited a set of institutions that included bloated bureaucracies, centralized economic planning, and patronage networks. Some of these institutions survived, others have mutated, and new institutions have been created.
Experts on Central Asia here examine the emerging relationship between state actors and social forces in the region. Through the prism of local institutions, the authors reassess both our understanding of Central Asia and of the state-building process more broadly. They scrutinize a wide array of institutional actors, ranging from regional governments and neighborhood committees to transnational and non-governmental organizations. With original empirical research and theoretical insight, the volume's contributors illuminate an obscure but resource-rich and strategically significant region.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From the Inside Flap
"Pauline Jones Luong teases out numerous important theoretical issues raised by the authors, juxtaposes them with the state of the art in the extant literature on Central Asia and comparative politics, and skillfully weaves the whole together. This is a pathbreaking collective effort in the emerging scholarship on Central Asia."-Douglas Blum, Providence College
"At a time when we are starved for information about these newly independent countries, The Transformation of Central Asia makes a welcome contribution with rich, thoughtful essays on diverse aspects of political and social life. The authors, all experts with extensive research experience in the region, share their insights into the many ways that Central Asian states, societies, and state-society relations have and have not changed since independence."-Philip G. Roeder, University of California, San Diego
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
The Transformation of Central Asia: States and Societies from Soviet Rule to Independence
The Transformation of Central Asia: States and Societies from Soviet Rule to Independence,Pauline Jones Luong,Pauline Jones Luong,Cornell University Press,0801488427,1991-,Asia - Central Asia,Asia, Central,Economic conditions,Europe - Former Soviet Republics,General,Government - International,History,History - General History,History: World,Politics and government,Social conditions
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