This book unpacks the main narratives used in international relations to depict and explain existing inter-state relations in Central Asia, with a focus on the construction of fairer international relations along the Silk Road. The book points to the need to decolonize international relations in the Central Asian region to present a fair representation of the regional states in international affairs. In doing so, the book exposes the concepts and stereotypes that have been imposed on the Central Asian region by dominant assumptions in contemporary international relations. Offering empirical grounding for alternative views, the author suggests that Western international relations make the same mistakes in the Central Asian region that the Russian Marxists made when they attributed a narrative of modernity along the lines of the progress made in Germany and Russia. In such a structure, both Russian Marxist attempts and liberalist Western ideas disregard the fact that the region has its own model of modernity and progress, which does not necessarily involve an appeal to the modern nation state, ethnicity and state building. The book sheds lights on the prospects of coordinated development of Central Asia and Afghanistan. It also provides insights into the development of post-Socialist Asia in its relations with Russia, China, Japan and South Korea. Contributing to the task of placing Central Asia in discussions in the discipline of international relations, this book will be of interest to academics working in the fields of international relations and Asian politics, in particular Central Asian studies.

Ch. 1. Uncovering the "new" Central Asia : the dynamics of external agency in a turbulent region / Emilian Kavalski -- ch. 2. NATO's partnership with Central Asia : cooperation à la carte / Simon J. Smith and Emilian Kavalski -- ch. 3. The OSCE in the new Central Asia / Maria Raquel Freire -- ch. 4. The European Union's new Central Asian strategy / Ertan Efegil -- ch. 5. The United Nations and Central Asia / W. Andy Knight and Vandana Bhatia -- ch. 6. China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization : the dynamics of "new regionalism", "vassalization", and geopolitics in Central Asia / Michael Clarke -- ch. 7. Russia and Central Asia / Marlène Laruelle -- ch. 8. The United States and Central Asia / Matteo Fumagalli -- ch. 9. Turkey in Central Asia : Turkish identity as enabler or impediment / Brent E. Sasley -- ch. 10. Iran and Central Asia : the smart politics of prudent pragmatism / Pierre Pahlavi and Afshin Hojati -- ch. 11. India and Central Asia : the no influence of the "look north" policy / Emilian Kavalski -- ch. 12. Japan and Central Asia / David Walton -- ch. 13. The influence of external actors in Central Asia / Stephen Blank

This volume aims to shed light on the historical, political, cultural, and socio-economic development of Central Asia. Scholars from within and outside the area discuss a wide range of topics, covering historical processes and events on the one hand, and present developments of regional and global concern on the other. Gabriele Rasuly-Paleczek is an assistant professor at the University of Vienna. Julia Katschnig teaches at the University of Applied Sciences for Business and Technics at Wieselburg, Austria.

This book focuses on Central Asia's place in world affairs and how international politics of state-building has affected the Asian region, thus filling the gaps in ongoing discussions on the rise of Asia in global governance. It also attempts to generalize and contextualize the “Central Asian experience” and re-evaluate its comparative relevance, by explaining the complex dynamics of Central Asian politics through a detailed analysis of the effects of major international actors — both international organizations as well as current and rising great powers.

The lands of Central Asia are united by a common history and historical identity as well as by common traditions. A heritage of tribal mountain and steppe confederations and oasis emirates gave way in the Soviet period to the creation of artificial “nation-states” in the heart of Asia. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, these nations—Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tojikiston, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekiston—were thrust back into the international community as separate countries. Independence came as had bondage to Soviet power seven decades earlier—it was imposed from without. These new states are now struggling with the cultural, economic, and political transformations of decolonization and independence.Exploring the forces of change in the new Central Asian states, Gregory Gleason analyzes their culture, their economic evolution, and their political institutions. He carefully traces the incorporation of Central Asia into the Soviet system, the region's path of development under socialism, and the vicissitudes of the economic and political collapse of socialism, before considering the trajectories of the new states as they chart their independent futures.

Since Soviet collapse, the independent republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have faced tremendous political, economic, and security challenges. Focusing on these five republics, this textbook analyzes the contending understandings of the politics of the past, present and future transformations of Central Asia, including its place in international security and world politics. Analysing the transformation that independence has brought and tracing the geography, history, culture, identity, institutions and economics of Central Asia, it locates ‘the political’ in the region. A comprehensive examination of the politics of Central Asia, this insightful book is of interest both to undergraduate and graduate students of Asian Politics, Post-Communist Politics, Comparative Politics and International Relations, and to scholars and professionals in the region.

This book traces the incorporation of Central Asia into the Soviet system, the region's path of development under socialism, and the vicissitudes of the economic and political collapse of socialism, before considering the trajectories of the new states as they chart their independent futures.