From the Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies, a special issue on Security and Defense Reform in Central Asia. The discourse of danger: A common Western geopolitical vision of Central Asia distorts policy towards the region. Playing with Fire: Shades of gray envelop political Islam in autocratic Central Asia. From Diplomatic Courier, the modern story of Central Asia is one where Central Asian states and local elites are increasing integration with the rest of the continent and beyond; and the 21st century will see the revival of the Silk Road that ages ago connected Asia to Europe, and this will be a windfall for landlocked-Central Asian countries whose access to regional and world markets rests on an efficient road system. Elvira Kurmanalieva and Ziyodullo Parpiev on geography and trade in Central Asia. Soviet Stepchildren: Communism fell, but liberty has yet to arrive in Central Asia. Stung by Amnesty International: It shouldn't take a high profile cancellation by Sting to draw attention to the human rights abuses happening in Central Asia. Unlike governments of the Middle East that have failed to deliver what the people need, Kazakhstan remains on a dynamic path of development that is widely supported in society. News for make benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan: Ethan Wilensky-Lanford on the Washington Times and the foreign newswire that wasn’t. Philip Shishkin on the enemy we need: Washington courts a repressive Uzbekistan — again.J. Berkshire Miller on Tajikistan’s security curse. Watching soap operas in Kabul: In post-Taliban Afghanistan, television is back and hugely popular. In Afghanistan, the wisdom of the powerful has resulted in decades of endless violence — what might we learn from ordinary people? The Door to Hell is actually located in Turkmenistan.
