Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics: Central Asia after September 11: Elizabeth Van Wie Davis: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics

Central Asia after September 11

Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics

Central Asia after September 11

Description

Since the tragic events of September 11, Central Asia has been drawn into the intense struggle of the international community against the forces of religious extremism and transnational crime. The great powers were able to put aside their geopolitical differences in order to crush al-Qaeda and the Taliban. With the marginalization of the Taliban and the eviction of al-Qaeda from Afghanistan, however, the tension between the great powers is notably increasing, as is the discomfort of Central Asian states who find themselves, their political development, and their oil reserves in the middle of a renewed Great Game.

Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics is a truly international volume, including chapters written by senior scholars, upcoming students in the field, prominent diplomats, and renowned academics from Russia, China, the United States, and the Central Asian republics. They collaborate to focus on three important issues that are usually—and unfortunately—analyzed separately: Islamic political issues, energy security, and geopolitical maneuvering. Once an obscure and little-known region, Central Asia has become an important test of America's ability to consistently promote global liberal change, of Russia's true foreign policy agenda, and of China's readiness to translate economic power into political influence. Terrorism, economics, and politics all converge in this strategic region, with important implications for Asia and the world. This significant and timely volume helps readers understand current events in Central Asia and how those events affect the rest of the world.

Contributions by: Kamoludin Abdullaev, Rouben Azizian, Gaye Christoffersen, Elizabeth Van Wie Davis, Feng Shaolei, Pan Guang, Shireen Hunter, Alisher Khamidov, Mikhail A. Konarovsky, Najibullah Lafraie, Murat Laumulin, Sergey I. Lounev, Aleksei V. Malashenko, Orhon Myadar, Manabu Shimizu, Thomas W. Simons Jr., Robert Smith, Sergei Troush, Kang Wu, and Shi Yinhong.

Chapter 1: Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics in Central Asia
Part I: Conflict and Peace
Chapter 2: Central Asia and War Against Terrorism: A View from Russia
Chapter 3: The Afghanistan Peace Process: Progress and Problems
Chapter 4: Islam and Ethnic Minorities in Central Asia: The Uyghurs
Chapter 5: Integrating Political Islam in Central Asia: The Tajik Experience
Chapter 6: Countering Religious Extremism in Central Asia: Hizbut-Tahrir and Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan
Chapter 7: Islam, Politics, and the Security of Central Asia
Part II: Energy Security
Chapter 8: Central Asia's Energy Resources: Japan's Energy Interests
Chapter 9: China's Energy Interest and Quest for Energy Security
Chapter 10: Central Asia and Asia-Pacific Energy Requirements
Part III: Geopolitics of Central Asia
Chapter 11: Great Power Politics in Central Asia Today: A Chinese Assessment
Chapter 12: Russia and India Meet in Central Asia
Chapter 13: Iran, Turkey, and Central Asia: The Islamic Connection
Chapter 14: China-Russia Strategic Relations: The Central Asian Angle
Chapter 15: China and Russia in Central Asia: Interests and Tendencies
Part IV: Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific
Chapter 16: Shanghai Cooperation Organization: Challenges, Opportunities, and Prospects
Chapter 17: Kazakhstan and Confidence Building Measures in Asia
Chapter 18: Post-Soviet Transitions: Central Asia and Mongolia
Chapter 19: The United States, Asian Security, and Central Asia Before and After September 11

Product details

Published	Nov 06 2006
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	288
ISBN	9780742541283
Imprint	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Dimensions	9 x 6 inches
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

The editors have assembled a collection of several important essays that tackle many aspects of peace and conflict and [the] complex dynamics of cooperation and competition within and outside the Central Asian states. The publication is a welcome volume for the field of Central Asian studies in particular and international relations in general.

The Journal Of Turkish Weekly
Viewing Central Asia from many angles and neighboring countries, this series of snapshots captures a region being pulled in different directions. One set of chapters focuses on the intersection of politics and religion. Another explores energy security. A third pictures geopolitical forces tugging at the region, and a fourth looks at some integrative forces, such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Through this one volume we can reflect on the broad significance of this region.

Gilbert Rozman, Princeton University
This book is an excellent introduction to all the major issues confronting Central Asia, a region that is likely to be as important in the twenty-first century as the Middle East was during the twentieth.

Husain Haqqani, Boston University
Central Asia's energy resources, Muslim identity, potential links to global terror networks, and pivotal geographic position make this region of growing importance to Washington, and its allies and competitors, in a post-9/11 world. America is trying to balance the conflicting pressures of containing terrorism and enhancing regional security, while pursuing a democratizing mission and seeking new energy sources. Russia's neo-imperial aspirations are leading it toward a renewed role in Central Asia, whileChina views the region as a promising source of oil and gas (and a potential source of instability). As each of these great powers jockeys for position in Central Asia, they find occasions for cooperation and competition. Neighboring states?Iran, Turkey,India, and Pakistan?are being drawn into the vortex. Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics provides a balanced and sophisticated assessment of these complex factors, with insights from talented Central Asian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and American scholars and practitioners. The authors skillfully outline broad strategic factors in the regional equation, while recognizing the substantial political, economic and social differences among the five Central Asian states. Academics and policy-makers alike will pro

Charles E. Ziegler, University of Louisville
This volume brings together an impressive array of international experts on Central Asia to address security trends in this pivotal region of the world.

Andrew Scobell, U.S. Army War College
Central Asia's energy resources, Muslim identity, potential links to global terror networks, and pivotal geographic position make this region of growing importance to Washington, and its allies and competitors, in a post-9/11 world. America is trying to balance the conflicting pressures of containing terrorism and enhancing regional security, while pursuing a democratizing mission and seeking new energy sources. Russia's neo-imperial aspirations are leading it toward a renewed role in Central Asia, while China views the region as a promising source of oil and gas (and a potential source of instability). As each of these great powers jockeys for position in Central Asia, they find occasions for cooperation and competition. Neighboring states-Iran, Turkey, India, and Pakistan-are being drawn into the vortex. Islam, Oil, and Geopolitics provides a balanced and sophisticated assessment of these complex factors, with insights from talented Central Asian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese and American scholars and practitioners. The authors skillfully outline broad strategic factors in the regional equation, while recognizing the substantial political, economic and social differences among the five Central Asian states. Academics and policy-makers alike will profit from this book.

Charles E. Ziegler, University of Louisville