Introduction to Central Asia

(Part 3 – Country Profiles and Literature)

Rob Kevlihan
Presented at the Centre for International Studies, Dublin City University, April 2006
 Kazakhstan
Oil rich state
Large Russian minority
Combination of civic and ethno-
nationalist state building project
Government dominated by President
and surrounding cliques
Geographically vulnerable but plays
cards well
 Uzbekistan
Largest population but only third largest
state, and large Uzbek minorities in
other states
Some natural resources – mostly gas
‘Bully boy’ of the region
Human rights and the threat of Islamic
extremism
Geo-strategic games – US versus Russia
 Turkmenistan
Extensive natural resources – especially
gas
Small population, tribally based
‘Turkmenbashi’ – cult of personality and
arbitrary rule
Neutral international posture
Human Rights concerns
 Kyrgyzstan
Mountainous, resource poor state
Acts as major water shed for
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Had been one of the better governed
Recent political instability – legacy of
the Tulip ‘revolution’
Regional tensions – north versus south
 Tajikistan
Poorest state in the region – extremely
mountainous, and most underdeveloped
Large scale economic migration of Tajiks to
other states, including Russia
Legacy of civil war – weak state structures,
poor infrastructure
On-going regional tensions despite control of
state by Kulyabi elite
Something of a client state to Russia
International Relations and
Central Asian Themes
Mineral wealth – oil and gas and pipeline
politics
Russian ‘Near Abroad’, US influence and role
of China
Human rights and democratization
Water management – decline of the Aral Sea
Economic reform
War on Terror and threat of Islamic
extremism
 Ireland and Central Asia
Region largely ignored by Irish policy makers
– excluded from Asia strategy and very low
aid priority
Relations managed from Irish embassy in
Moscow
Broadly support democratization, economic
transition and stability
OSCE major vehicle for engagement
Some Irish business interests in Turkmenistan
 Ireland and Central Asia
Small signs of increased Irish interest
Irish election monitors in Kazakhstan in
2005 election
EU sanctions imposed against Uzbekistan
for human rights violations
Irish Aid commitment to review
geographical funding priorities of Balkans
and CIS Funding scheme
 Resources
International Crisis Group
Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
www.ferghana.ru
www.registan.net
Frontline Defenders
www.frontlinedefenders.org
SOAS Library in London
 Selected Authors
Pauline Jones Luong, Dawaisha and
Parrott (Central Asia in general /
transitions in region)
Martha Brill Olcott, Bhana Dave, Edward
Schatz, Pauline Jones Luong, Sally
Cummings (Kazakhstan)
Shirin Akiner, Muriel Atkin (Tajikistan,
Uzbekistan)
 Selected Authors
Edward Allworth, Resul Yalsin
(Uzbekistan)
Adrienne Lynn Edgar (Turkmenistan)
Good general reads
The Great Game, Peter Hopkirk
The Land Beyond the River, Monica
Whitlock
 Note: Sources
Maps presented in this presentation were
accessed on line from the following sites:
Political Map:
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/commonwea
lth/caucasus_cntrl_asia_pol_2003.jpg
Population density and Population groups:
http://www.envsec.org
Others are accessible at www.cia.gov