Central Asia: More than islamic extremists

Washington Quarterly

Volumn 25, Issue 1, 2002, Pages 193-206

  Cornell, Svante E ^a,b   Spector, Regine A ^c  

^a JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b UPPSALA UNIVERSITY   (Sweden)

^c BROOKINGS INSTITUTION   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0040076513     PISSN: 0163660X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1162/016366002753358410     Document Type: Review

References (36)

1. Central Asia, defined geographically, is commonly understood as the region encompassing the five former Soviet "'scans," which are now states celebrating the tenth anniversaries of their independence this year: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The region that is Central Asia, however, historically extends beyond the borders of the five newly independent Central Asian republics to western China and Afghanistan. The term "Central Asia" in this article refers to the wider definition of the region, which includes Afghanistan. The term "Central Asian republics" refers exclusively to the newly independent Central Asian states.
2. The titles of some of the early books on the region reflected this paradigm clearly. See Ahmed Rashid, The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism (London: Zed, 1994); Dilip Hiro, Between Marx and Muhammad (London: Harper Collins, 1994).
3. The titles of some of the early books on the region reflected this paradigm clearly. See Ahmed Rashid, The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism (London: Zed, 1994); Dilip Hiro, Between Marx and Muhammad (London: Harper Collins, 1994).
4. Specifically, the Washington, D.C.-based Islamic Supreme Council of America, part of the Naqshbandiya order, supports the current government in Uzbekistan. See http://www.islamicsupremecouncil.org.
5. For a wider discussion of political Islam, see Olivier Roy, The Failure of Political Islam (London: Tauris, 1994); John L. Esposito, Political Islam: Revolution, Radicalism, or Reform? (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 1997).
6. For a wider discussion of political Islam, see Olivier Roy, The Failure of Political Islam (London: Tauris, 1994); John L. Esposito, Political Islam: Revolution, Radicalism, or Reform? (Boulder, Colo.: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 1997).
7. In the summer of 2001, the IMU announced it had renamed itself as the Islamic Party of Turkestan (IPT). This change likely amounts to the acquisition of a political identity, but also extends the scope of the movement: Turkestan is the historic term for Tukic-populated regions in Central Asia, which extend far beyond Uzbekistan, the IMU's primary focus.
8. For an excellent analysis of the issue, see Tamara Makarenko, "Terrorism and Religion Mask Drug Trafficking in Central Asia," Jane's Intelligence Review 12, no. 11 (November 1, 2000).
9. Jean-Christophe Peuch, "Central Asia: Charges Link Russian Military to Drug Trade," RFE/RL, June 8, 2001. For detailed information on the drug trafficking situation in Central Asia, see also Martha Brill Olcott and Natalia Udalova, "Drug Trafficking on the Great Silk Road: The Security Environment in Central Asia," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Working Paper, no. 11, March 2000.
10. Jean-Christophe Peuch, "Central Asia: Charges Link Russian Military to Drug Trade," RFE/RL, June 8, 2001. For detailed information on the drug trafficking situation in Central Asia, see also Martha Brill Olcott and Natalia Udalova, "Drug Trafficking on the Great Silk Road: The Security Environment in Central Asia," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Working Paper, no. 11, March 2000.
11. International drug control officials, communications with author, Washington, D.C., May 2001; Tamara Makarenko, "Crime and Terrorism in Central Asia," Jane's Intelligence Review 12, no. 7 (July 1, 2000).
12. See Asal Azamova, "The Military Is in Control of Drug Trafficking in Tajikistan," Moscou' News, no. 22 (May 30, 2001) (interview with Anton Surikov).
13. "Civil Order Still a Distant Prospect in Tajikistan," Jamestouni Monitor, July 18, 2001.
14. "Russians Seize Two Tons of Opium," United Press International, July 15, 2001; Alexei Igushev, "Tajikistan: Two Tons of Opium Went Up in Smoke," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, August 1, 2001.
15. "Russians Seize Two Tons of Opium," United Press International, July 15, 2001; Alexei Igushev, "Tajikistan: Two Tons of Opium Went Up in Smoke," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, August 1, 2001.
16. Ken Guggenheim, "Afghan Opium Production May Rise," Associated Press, September 26, 2001; Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt, "Afghanistan Remains a Major Drug Trader despite Taliban Ban," New York Times, September 26, 2001, sec. B, p. 4.
17. Ken Guggenheim, "Afghan Opium Production May Rise," Associated Press, September 26, 2001; Michael R. Gordon and Eric Schmitt, "Afghanistan Remains a Major Drug Trader despite Taliban Ban," New York Times, September 26, 2001, sec. B, p. 4.
18. Anthony Davis, "Foreign Fighters Step Up Activity in Afghan Civil War," Jane's Intelligence Review 13, no. 8 (August 1, 2001). The Taliban government has also reportedly appointed the IMU military leader, Juma Namangani, to the post of commander in chief for military operations against the Northern Alliance. See "Saudi Bin-Ladin Appointed Afghan Taleban Commander in Chief," BBC Monitoring, Tajik Radio first programme, Dushanbe, in Tajik, August 1, 2001.
19. Anthony Davis, "Foreign Fighters Step Up Activity in Afghan Civil War," Jane's Intelligence Review 13, no. 8 (August 1, 2001). The Taliban government has also reportedly appointed the IMU military leader, Juma Namangani, to the post of commander in chief for military operations against the Northern Alliance. See "Saudi Bin-Ladin Appointed Afghan Taleban Commander in Chief," BBC Monitoring, Tajik Radio first programme, Dushanbe, in Tajik, August 1, 2001.
20. Aziz Soltobayev, "Collective Security Exercises," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, September 26, 2001. See also Arslan Koichiev, "Skirmishes Suggest IMU Is Changing Tactics," Eurasianet, August 6, 2001.
21. Aziz Soltobayev, "Collective Security Exercises," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, September 26, 2001. See also Arslan Koichiev, "Skirmishes Suggest IMU Is Changing Tactics," Eurasianet, August 6, 2001.
22. Human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and the Committee to Protect Journalists have thoroughly documented these cases. See also Fiona Hill, "Silencing Central Asia: The Voice of Dissidents," testimony before the House Committee on International Relations Subcommittees on International Operations and Human Rights and on the Middle East and South Asia, July 18, 2001, available on the Brookings Institution Web site at http://www.brook.edu/views/testimony/hill/ 20010718.htm.
23. This steep decline is largely a result of the collapse of industries that could only be sustained through the Soviet supply and distribution system. See Nancy Lubin, Keith Martin, and R. Rubin, Calming the Ferghana Valley (New York: Century Foundation Press, 1999), p. 61.
24. See Gulzina Karim Kyzy, "Kyrgyz Shuttle Trade in Crisis," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, August 1, 2001. See International Crisis Group, "Incubators of Regional Conflict? Hyper-Depression in Localities in Central Asia," ICG Asia Report no. 16, p. 8.
25. See Gulzina Karim Kyzy, "Kyrgyz Shuttle Trade in Crisis," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, August 1, 2001. See International Crisis Group, "Incubators of Regional Conflict? Hyper-Depression in Localities in Central Asia," ICG Asia Report no. 16, p. 8.
26. For details on demographics and the rural population in the Central Asian republics, see Cynthia Buckley, "Rural/Urban Differentials in Demographic Processes: The Central Asian States," Population Research and Policy Review 17, no. 1 (February 1998): 71-89.
27. For more details on Hizb-ut-Tahrir in the region, see Uran Botobekov, "Spreading the Ideas of the Hizb-ut-Tahrir in South Kyrgyzstan," in Islam in the Post-Soviet Newly Independent States: The View from Within, eds. Alexei Malashenko and Martha Brill Olcott (Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center, July 2001); Bakhtiyar Babadzhanov, "On the Activities of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Uzbekistan," in Islam in the Post-Soviet Newly Independent States: The View from Within, eds. Alexei Malashenko and Martha Brill Olcott (Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center, July 2001). Both works are available at http://pubs.carnegie.ru/english/books/2001/07am2/toc.asp. A wealth of information from and on radical Islamic movements is posted on the Internet. Examples are located at http://www.ummah.org/ and http://www.hizb-ut-tahrir.org/.
28. For more details on Hizb-ut-Tahrir in the region, see Uran Botobekov, "Spreading the Ideas of the Hizb-ut-Tahrir in South Kyrgyzstan," in Islam in the Post-Soviet Newly Independent States: The View from Within, eds. Alexei Malashenko and Martha Brill Olcott (Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center, July 2001); Bakhtiyar Babadzhanov, "On the Activities of Hizb-ut-Tahrir in Uzbekistan," in Islam in the Post-Soviet Newly Independent States: The View from Within, eds. Alexei Malashenko and Martha Brill Olcott (Moscow: Carnegie Moscow Center, July 2001). Both works are available at http://pubs.carnegie.ru/english/books/2001/07am2/toc.asp. A wealth of information from and on radical Islamic movements is posted on the Internet. Examples are located at http://www.ummah.org/ and http://www.hizb-ut-tahrir.org/.
29. Alexei Igushev, "Hizb-e-Tahrir Activities in Tajikistan," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, April 11, 2001; Gulzina Karym Kyzy, "Kyrgyzstan under the Revival of the Islamic Militant Specter," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, May 23, 2001.
30. Alexei Igushev, "Hizb-e-Tahrir Activities in Tajikistan," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, April 11, 2001; Gulzina Karym Kyzy, "Kyrgyzstan under the Revival of the Islamic Militant Specter," Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, May 23, 2001.
31. Alisher Khamidov, "Frustration Builds among Uzbeks in Southern Kyrgyzstan," Eurasianet, March 26, 2001.
32. For an in-depth analysis of U.S. policy toward the region over the past decade, see Fiona Hill, "A Not-So-Grand Strategy: United States Policy in the Caucasus and Central Asia since 1991," Politique étrangère 1 (January-March 2001). The article is available in English on the Brookings Institution Web site at http://www.brook.edu/ views/articles/fhill/2001politique.htm.
33. For additional policy recommendations for U.S. policy toward the region, see Fiona Hill, "The Caucasus and Central Asia," Brookings Institution Policy Brief, no. 80, May 2001, available at the Brookings Institution Web site at http://www.brook.edu/ comm/policybriefs/pb080/pb80.htmf.
34. Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State, "UNHCR Prepares for Influx of Afghan Refugees into Neighboring Countries," September 26, 2001 (press release).
35. U.S. General Accounting Office, Foreign Assistance: U.S. Economic and Democratic Assistance to the Central Asian Republics, August 1999 (report to the chairman of the U.S. House Committee on International Relations).
36. Vladimir Davlatov, "Tajik Economy in Tatters," Reporting Central Asia, no. 54, June 1, 2001.