Central Asia's Second Chance

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10/19/2009

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Books - Non-fiction

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Central Asia's first decade of independence was disappointing for those who envisioned a transition from Soviet republics to independent states wit... (More) Central Asia's first decade of independence was disappointing for those who envisioned a transition from Soviet republics to independent states with market economies and democratic political systems. The region was given a "second chance" to address social and economic problems, but the Soviet-era leaders have been more interested in exploiting state resources than in implementing democratic and regional reforms.

Central Asia, a critical battlefield in the war on terror, is vitally important and still unfamiliar even to many foreign policy specialists. Tensions in the region lie close to the surface: If we are to prevent these states from descending into chaos, the international community must identify solutions to the economic, political, and social challenges confronting them. (Less)