This is a comprehensive, expertly written and well-documented book on the complex and multifaceted policies of Central Asia. Twenty-one scholars—the best in the field—provide a fascinating account of the rivalries and tensions, the friendships and enmities, the areas of cooperation and the potential for conflict among this group of countries. Both academic and lay readers will find the volume accessible and informative.
- Gawdat Bahgat, National Defense University,
This book is an excellent introduction to an historic and increasingly strategic region of the world to which the United States should pay greater attention. The essays cover all the key issues: geopolitics, international relations, security, economic development, social and cultural challenges, and natural resources, especially the vast hydrocarbon deposits of the Caspian basin. From my own twenty years of experience representing the United States in Central Asia, I can tell you that this book gets it right.
- Richard E. Hoagland,