The present study offers an assessment of security concerns and sources of unrest and possible threats to the peace following the Soviet collapse in 1991. It deals with the transition period of the five Central Asian States from a Communist system to a democratic one. Economic difficulties, border issues, and global competition pose risks to regional security. Other volatile and widespread elements that manifest in ethno-national and ethno-territorial conflicts, poverty, unemployment, arms smuggling, and drug-trafficking have also been dealt with. The book focuses on the growing influence of USA, Russia, China, Iran and Turkey in the Central Asian states. The book would be of great interest to scholars, policy makers and academics involved in the research on the Central Asian studies.

The present study offers an assessment of security concerns in Central Asia after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991. It deals with the transition period for the five Central Asian States from the communist system to a democratic and pluralistic one. Essentially, the focus of the writer is on bilateral, multilateral and international commitments of these States to ensure peace and security in the region. The withdrawal of nuclear warheads from Kazakhstan, collective security formula, bilateral agreements and the role of the big powers all make an interesting study. The author has discussed these concerns in the context of the stance of neighbouring States vis-a-vis Central Asia. Economic interests also figure wherever necessary. This work is highly useful to those who would like to concentrate on any aspect of history in Central Asia and adjoining regions in the post-Soviet period.

Conference papers.

A specialist in Central Asian and Caspian affairs at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Olcott argues that having failed to create viable states after their liberation from Soviet domination, the region has been granted a second chance to do right by the presence of US military bases and international aid and attention in return for he

This volume is the first comprehensive scholarly analysis of the strategic reconfiguration of Central Asia as Russia has become more disengaged from the nations in the region and as these nations have developed new relations to the south, east, and west. The international implications are enormous because of the rich energy sources—oil and natural gas—located in the Caspian Sea area. The authors assess a variety of internal security policy challenges confronting these states—for example, the potential for conflict arising from such factors as a mixed ethnic population, resource scarcity, particularly in relation to water management, and an Islamic revival. They also examine the security policy content of relations between the Central Asian states and regional and international powers—specifically the stakes, interests, and policies of Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, and the United States. These internal challenges and the evolution of relations with external powers may result in new cooperative relationships, but they may also lead to destabilizing rivalry and interstate enmity in Central Asia. It is important to identify new patterns of relevance for future security cooperation in the region, but the potential for a new security system or for new institutions to manage security in the region remains uncertain. These issues are explored by a team of prominent specialists from Western Europe, the United States, Russia and China.