Central Asia since the Dissolution of the Soviet Union: Economic Reforms and eir Impact on State-Society Relations

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 313-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Pomfret
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Common ◽  
Autocratic Regimes ◽  
Central Asian Republics ◽  
Sudden Collapse

AbstractIn late 1991, with the sudden collapse of the Soviet Union, the five Central Asian republics became independent countries. The completely unexpected challenges of nation-building were superimposed on the transition from a centrally planned economy. Within the common bounds of resource-based economies and autocratic regimes, the five countries gradually became more differentiated as their governments introduced diverse national strategies for transition to a market-based economy. This article describes the different economic polices adopted by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and analyzes the outcomes.

Clan Politics and Regime Transition in Central Asia

2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 802-804
Author(s):  
Nilgun Onder
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Political Regime ◽  
Historical Study ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Regime Transition ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Independent States ◽  
Central Asian Republics

Clan Politics and Regime Transition in Central Asia, Kathleen Collins, New York: Cambridge University Press, 2006, pp. 376.The long isolation of Central Asia finally ended with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Five new independent states emerged from the ashes of the Soviet Union, the very first time in history that the peoples of Central Asia gained their own independent states modelled on the modern state. This development caught the world, including Central Asians themselves, by surprise. It changed the geopolitics of the entire Eurasia. In the ensuing years, the Central Asian republics have undergone simultaneous multiple transformations: state building; political regime transformation; and transition from Soviet communism. Thus the new states in Central Asia have provided scholars with new cases of multiple economic and political transitions to study and compare. In recent years, there has been a significant proliferation of English-language publications on Central Asia. Kathleen Collin's book, a comparative historical study of political development in Central Asia, is a major contribution. While its focus is on Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, it often provides examples from the other two Central Asian republics, namely Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. It is thoroughly researched and rich in information and details. It also makes a significant contribution to the political science literature on democratization, regime transition and consolidation.

From Soviet Republics to Independent Countries: Challenges of Transition in Central Asia

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 291-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirzohid Rahimov
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Regional Integration ◽  
Economic Reforms ◽  
Historical Period ◽  
Economic Regulation ◽  
Interstate Relations ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Creation

AbstractIn the twentieth century, the Central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan passed through a complex historical period. They were originally founded as republics of the Soviet Union in the 1920s-30s as a result of national and territorial state delimitation. The process of the creation of new national state formations began after the Soviet Union disintegrated and these republics achieved independence. At the same time, the region's nations are facing complex problems of transition and the creation of new societies. Nevertheless, these countries have to continue the process of political and economic reforms, as well as development of civic institutions. The Central Asian nations established contacts with foreign states and international organizations and started to form a system of interstate relations between the countries of the region. There are potentials for development of regional integration of Central Asia. Future integration will depend on the readiness of the nations to carry out political and economic reforms, introduce forms and methods of economic regulation compatible with global norms, and most important, international support of political reforms and regional integration.

scholarly journals A Great Game in Greater Central Asia

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-243
Author(s):  
M. H. Glantz
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Aral Sea Basin ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Soviet Central Asia ◽  
Great Game ◽  
Central Asian Republics

The region historically referred to as Soviet Central Asia includes the 5 Central Asian Republics (CARs) of the Former Soviet Union (FSU): Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Their political status changed drastically when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 and they became independent republics. Since the early 1990s, Central Asian leaders have referred on occasion to neighboring Afghanistan as the sixth CAR. In fact, it does occupy 14% of the Aral Sea Basin and its mountains supply about 15% of streamflow to the region’s mighty Amu Darya River that used to flow into Central Asia’s Aral Sea.

Identity-building in Kazakhstan

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 327-358
Author(s):  
Alin Roman
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
The Other ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Central Asian Republics ◽  
Gradual Transformation

"As a young nation that came into existence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Kazakhstan undergoes a gradual transformation within its demographics. The issue of national identity within what was once an important and well-integrated part of the USSR continues to draw the involvement of its administrative apparatus that has to find the equilibrium between, on one hand, maintaining national integrity through various mechanisms and, on the other, managing the level of external and internal factors that may lead to the fate of its fellow Central-Asian republics. Keywords: nationalism, populism, Central Asia, statehood, post-Soviet identity"

scholarly journals Converging party systems in Russia and Central Asia: A case of authoritarian norm diffusion?

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 147-157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean P. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Party System ◽  
Party Systems ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Political Systems ◽  
Norm Diffusion ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Central Asian Republics

Almost twenty five years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia and several Central Asian republics appear to be converging on what may be termed a ‘hierarchic party system’, characterised by controlled and unequal competition between parties. Addressing the juncture between international politics and party politics, this article explores this convergence and considers Russian authoritarian norm diffusion as a possible explanation. This article argues that although Russia continues to build significant party-based linkage in Central Asia, similarities between party systems are the result of complex, multidirectional norm diffusion, as regimes look to liberalise or close their respective political systems.

scholarly journals Terrorism in Central Asia: Security Implications for Russia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debendra Mahalik
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Religious Fundamentalism ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
The Stability ◽  
External Forces ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
Central Asian Republics

End of the cold war following the disintegration of the Soviet Union witnessed unprecedented increase in militancy and terrorism prompted by internal and external forces. This was also fuelled by factors like religious fundamentalism and ethno-nationalist chauvinism. The newly independent countries of the Central Asian region encountered myriad problems like terrorism, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, organized crime, separatism, and ethnic conflicts. Given the geographical proximity and historicity, Central Asia is regarded as Russia’s own backyard and a “soft underbelly”. The near-abroad security developments in the Central Asian republics have great influence on Russia and could create a complex environment detrimental to its security interests. The Russian approach to this challenge is of great importance for the stability of the whole area. Any negative developments in Central Asian Regions and Afghanistan would have serious security implications for Russia. A stable and friendly government in Afghanistan and Central Asian states would prove beneficial to Russian security, including the on ongoing separatist movements in Chechnya and Dagestan. Therefore it is imperative that Russia and Central Asian states act collectively to counter religious radicalism and foster regional stability. This article examines some factors responsible for breeding terrorism and religious extremism in Central Asian Republics and its security implications onRussia such as Central Asian threats, US presence in Central Asia and the Taliban in Afghanistan.  

scholarly journals The Impact of Post-Communist Central Asia’s Internal Dynamics on its External Relations

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 63-76
Author(s):  
Enayatollah Yazdani
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Central Government ◽  
Internal Dynamics ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
External Relations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Central Asian Republics

Under the Soviet Union rule, Central Asia was a closed region with no access to the outside world. Both internal and external affairs in the region was directed by the central government in Moscow. When the Central Asian republics became dependence in 1991, the situation changed.Yet, in the new era Central Asia has faced many problems and challenges. This paper aims to explore how Central Asia’s internal dynamics have influenced its external relations? The paper concludes that the region’s external relations have been greatly affected by its internal dynamics. 

scholarly journals Central Asia – the Political Economy of Events in 1995

1996 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-68
Author(s):  
Ahmed Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Civil War ◽  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
The Political ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Break Up ◽  
Central Asian Republics

No greater disappointment for Pakistan’s foreign policy since the break up of the Soviet Union has been the inability to benefit from increased trade and traffic with five Central Asian Republics (CARs). The continuing civil war in Afghanistan has blocked land routes while neighbouring countries such as Iran and Turkey have surged ahead with strengthening economic links with Central Asia.

scholarly journals Politics of Central Asia: Water and Energy Aspect

2016 ◽  
pp. 7-18
Author(s):  
S S Zhiltsov
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Transboundary Rivers ◽  
Legal Documents ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Energy Aspect ◽  
Central Asian Republics

This article analyzes the situation regarding the water resources of the transboundary rivers that developed in Central Asia after the collapse of the Soviet Union when the previous mechanism of mutual account of the interests of all the Central Asian republics broke down. Particular attention is given to the factors that have an impact on the formation and implementation of Central Asian politics regarding water use. A comparison is made of the international legal base that regulates conflicts involving the water resources of transboundary rivers and the legal documents of the Central Asian states. The paper analyzes the reasons for the failure to create a multisided mechanism for resolving the disputes that arise among the Central Asian countries with respect to water use of the transboundary rivers.

scholarly journals Central Asian States: Difficulties on the Path of Rapprochement

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-311
Author(s):  
G. Ch. Akunova
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
The United States ◽  
Multilateral Cooperation ◽  
The Soviet Union ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Independent States ◽  
The Common ◽  
Asian Economic Community

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the new independent states of Central Asia had faced serious problems, such as the lack of experience in building state system, border demarcation, severe economic situation, threat of interethnic conflicts. However, that period was appropriate for integration initiatives in Central Asia. The economies of the post-Soviet republics in the region had been formed by the common Soviet system, the states depended from each other. In addition, the geopolitical situation in the region was favorable for rapprochement; Russia, China, the United States were not actively involved in regional processes. In the period from 1994 to 2005, the Central Asian republics initiated several integration projects, such as the Common economic space (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan), the Central Asian Economic Community (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), the Central Asian Cooperation Organization (all republics of Central Asia, except Turkmenistan). It should be noted that the integration process in the region implied all republics of Central Asia, except Turkmenistan, which had been ignoring any initiatives of neighbor countries. These structures did not achieve their goal, such as the creation of a free trade zone as well as customs, currency and payment unions. After a prolonged period of integration initiatives, there were no real close relationships between the countries. The states still prefer to build their relations in a bilateral format. The article considers the reasons that prevent the Central Asian states from effectively pursuing a multilateral format of cooperation in the region. The main reasons that determine the unpreparedness of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan for cooperation in a multilateral format are identified. Attention has been paid to such factors as the collision of interests of outside players, leadership issues between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, water distribution policy and cross-border cooperation. The steps that Central Asian countries need to take to establish effective multilateral cooperation in the region are analyzed.

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