In 1984 Tamarov, then 19, was drafted into the Soviet Army and posted to Afghanistan where he spent 20 months in a minesweeper outfit. Despite heavy operational responsibilities and danger, he managed
Alaolmolki's book on the politics and foreign relations of the republics of Central Asia fills a gap in the literature on this region no one could have foreseen before September 11th. The study is sh
First time in paperback, with a new Introduction and final chapter World affairs expert and intrepid travel journalist Robert D. Kaplan braved the dangers of war-ravaged Afghanistan in the 1980s, livi
Emphasizing the destructive process rather than the accompanying attempt to reshape Central Asian cultures, Keller (Russian/Soviet history, Hamilton College) describes what happened to Islam in the Ce
Until his death in 2000, Artyom Borovik was considered one of the preeminent journalists in Russia. With The Hidden War he provided the world its first glimpse inside the Soviet military machine, cap
Going beyond the stereotypes of Kalashnikov-wielding Afghan mujahideen and black-turbaned fundamentalists, Larry Goodson combines Taliban interviews and field research with concise analysis to explain
Based on first-hand research conducted by the Moscow Centre for Civilizational and Regional Studies, this book documents the findings of studies on the newly independent states of Central Asia Kazakhs
Examines Afghanistan under the rule of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), focusing explicitly on the regime, its institutions, and its successes and failures, and drawing on recently
Soucek (Princeton U.) introduces the history and current status of seven countries that suddenly appeared in western consciousness when the Soviet Union collapsed. He includes Mongolia, which was nomi
Uzbekistan more than any other country in the area is likely to play a critical role in shaping Central Asia's future. Situated at the heart of the region and sharing borders with all the other Centra
Uzbekistan more than any other country in the area is likely to play a critical role in shaping Central Asia's future. Situated at the heart of the region and sharing borders with all the other Centra
Svat Soucek's book offers a short and accessible introduction to the history of Inner Asia. The narrative, which begins with the arrival of Islam, charts the rise and fall of the different dynasties right up to the Russian conquest. Dynastic tables and maps augment and elucidate the text. The contemporary focus rests on the seven countries which make up the core of present-day Eurasia, that is Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Sinkiang and Mongolia. Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, renewed interest in these countries has prompted considerable political, cultural, economic and religious debate. While a divergent literature has evolved in consequence, no comprehensive survey of the region has been attempted. Soucek's history promises to fill this gap and to become an indispensable source of information for anyone studying or visiting the region.
The first translation into English from Chaghatay, a medieval Turkic literary language of Central Asia, of a work by Uzbek historians Munis (1778-1829) and Agahi (1809-74), and indeed the first wester
Adeeb Khalid offers the first extended examination of cultural debates in Central Asia during Russian rule. With the Russian conquest in the 1860s and 1870s the region came into contact with modernity
This collection of vignettes was written by Soviet junior officers describing their experiences fighting the Mujahideen guerillas. It is not a history of the Soviet-Afghan war, but snapshots of combat
In 1996, the world watched with varying degrees of interest, surprise, and unease as armed, ultra- fundamentalist insurgents overthrew the Afghan government. Within days of their victory, the Taliban,
Presents translations of 19 pieces or excerpts by Central Asians seeking to rediscover or reinvent their history, political culture, and cultural monuments. The topics include the origins of the Kazak
