What do you think?
Rate this book
The Resurgence of Central Asia: Islam or Nationalism?
A seminal introduction to the rise of Central Asia, covering Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan
The Resurgence of Central Asia is Ahmed Rashid’s seminal study of the states that emerged in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All have Muslim majorities and ancient histories but are otherwise very different. Rashid’s book, now with a new introduction by the author examining some of the crucial political developments since its first publication in 1994, provides entrée to this little-known but geopolitically important region. Rashid gives a history of each country, including its incorporation into Tsarist Russia, to the present day, provides basic socioeconomic information, and explains the diverse political situations. He focuses primarily on the underlying issues confronting these societies: the legacy of Soviet rule, ethnic tensions, the position of women, the future of Islam, the question of nuclear proliferation, and the fundamental choices over economic strategy, political system, and external orientation that lie ahead.
The Resurgence of Central Asia is Ahmed Rashid’s seminal study of the states that emerged in the aftermath of the breakup of the Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. All have Muslim majorities and ancient histories but are otherwise very different. Rashid’s book, now with a new introduction by the author examining some of the crucial political developments since its first publication in 1994, provides entrée to this little-known but geopolitically important region. Rashid gives a history of each country, including its incorporation into Tsarist Russia, to the present day, provides basic socioeconomic information, and explains the diverse political situations. He focuses primarily on the underlying issues confronting these societies: the legacy of Soviet rule, ethnic tensions, the position of women, the future of Islam, the question of nuclear proliferation, and the fundamental choices over economic strategy, political system, and external orientation that lie ahead.
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1994
23 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Ahmed Rashid
35 books292 followersSon of Ahmed (an engineer) and Piari (a homemaker) Rashid; married Angeles Espino Perez- Hurtado, 1982; children: Raphael, Sara Bano. Education: Attended Government College, Lahore, Pakistan, 1966- 68, and Cambridge University, 1968-70; earned B.A. and M.A. Religion: Muslim. Addresses: Homeoffice: Lahore Cant., Pakistan. E-mail: review@brain.net.pk.
Career: Journalist and broadcaster. Correspondent for Daily Telegraph, London, England, and formerly for Far Eastern Economic Review, Hong Kong; broadcaster for international radio and television networks such as British Broadcasting Corporation and Cable News Network. Member, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Ahmed Rashid is a Pakistani journalist and best-selling author. Rashid attended Malvern College, England, Government College Lahore, and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He serves as the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review and the Daily Telegraph. He also writes for the Wall Street Journal, The Nation, and academic journals. He appears regularly on international TV and radio networks such as CNN and BBC World.
Rashid's 2000 book, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia, was a New York Times bestseller for five weeks, translated into 22 languages, and has sold 1.5 million copies since the September 11, 2001 attacks.[1] The book was used extensively by American analysts in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
His latest book, "Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia"[1], is a scathing critique of both America and Europe's failure to invest in rebuilding Afghanistan and Pakistan's role in allowing Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements to regroup in Pakistan.
His commentary also appears in the Washington Post's PostGlobal segment.
Rashid lives in Lahore, Pakistan with his wife and two children.
Career: Journalist and broadcaster. Correspondent for Daily Telegraph, London, England, and formerly for Far Eastern Economic Review, Hong Kong; broadcaster for international radio and television networks such as British Broadcasting Corporation and Cable News Network. Member, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Ahmed Rashid is a Pakistani journalist and best-selling author. Rashid attended Malvern College, England, Government College Lahore, and Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. He serves as the Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia correspondent for the Far Eastern Economic Review and the Daily Telegraph. He also writes for the Wall Street Journal, The Nation, and academic journals. He appears regularly on international TV and radio networks such as CNN and BBC World.
Rashid's 2000 book, Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia, was a New York Times bestseller for five weeks, translated into 22 languages, and has sold 1.5 million copies since the September 11, 2001 attacks.[1] The book was used extensively by American analysts in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
His latest book, "Descent into Chaos: The United States and the Failure of Nation Building in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia"[1], is a scathing critique of both America and Europe's failure to invest in rebuilding Afghanistan and Pakistan's role in allowing Taliban and Al-Qaeda elements to regroup in Pakistan.
His commentary also appears in the Washington Post's PostGlobal segment.
Rashid lives in Lahore, Pakistan with his wife and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 12, 2021
I have read the 1994 Zed Books edition
Ahmed Rashid, like other his books, pours a lot of information and data in this book. He goes back deep into history drawing the historical development of each of the Central Asian nations. Although a lot of the information concerning the pre-Soviet period of the region provided in the book is ambiguous and controversial, it seems the author is completely confident about the way he presents them without mentioning any debates.
In some places, the author uses racial arguments like the comparison of appearance and head size without reference to any proper scientific source, which (I think) should not come in such books at all.
Also, there are contradictions in the data provided in the book itself. For example in the chapter about Tajikistan when the author mentions the Persian poet Firdousi (935/40-1020) he refers to him as tenth-century in one page and twelve-century poet after seven pages.
However, the book is very valuable for the information it provides about the late Soviet and early independence periods of Central Asia. The author has been personally present in many meetings and talked to many actors that are mentioned in the book. It is very interesting to look back in that period to see people, many of whom are still in politics, struggling with hardships of the economic shortcomings, political-security instability, and social unrest.
I recommend this book to those who are familiar with Central Asian politics and history. However, the information concerning the pre-Soviet and early Soviet period should be evaluated with questioning and criticism.
Ahmed Rashid, like other his books, pours a lot of information and data in this book. He goes back deep into history drawing the historical development of each of the Central Asian nations. Although a lot of the information concerning the pre-Soviet period of the region provided in the book is ambiguous and controversial, it seems the author is completely confident about the way he presents them without mentioning any debates.
In some places, the author uses racial arguments like the comparison of appearance and head size without reference to any proper scientific source, which (I think) should not come in such books at all.
Also, there are contradictions in the data provided in the book itself. For example in the chapter about Tajikistan when the author mentions the Persian poet Firdousi (935/40-1020) he refers to him as tenth-century in one page and twelve-century poet after seven pages.
However, the book is very valuable for the information it provides about the late Soviet and early independence periods of Central Asia. The author has been personally present in many meetings and talked to many actors that are mentioned in the book. It is very interesting to look back in that period to see people, many of whom are still in politics, struggling with hardships of the economic shortcomings, political-security instability, and social unrest.
I recommend this book to those who are familiar with Central Asian politics and history. However, the information concerning the pre-Soviet and early Soviet period should be evaluated with questioning and criticism.
May 22, 2023
This book was published shortly after the collapse of the USSR so it was interesting to see how each republic has developed since then. I was intrigued by the history of each country lying at the heart of the ancient silk road at the crossroads of empires such as Persian, Chinese, Mongol and Russia. Each nations it's own challenges whether, social, demographic, economic of technology however they're very resource wealthy nations. Definitely worth a read if you want to discover more about the heart of the Turkic world
May 20, 2024
I finally finished this!!! Read it in preparation for my trip to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and also because Rashid is an author I relied heavily upon while writing my thesis.
This book is about thirty years out of date—which matters because things in Central Asia have changed so much since the fall of the Soviet Union. But it’s really helpful in getting an idea of how the Central Asian republics came to be in the first place and what the political and economic situations were immediately after the USSR’s collapse. It’s safe to say that things have gone better for Central Asia than Rashid predicted, except maybe in Turkmenistan.
This book is about thirty years out of date—which matters because things in Central Asia have changed so much since the fall of the Soviet Union. But it’s really helpful in getting an idea of how the Central Asian republics came to be in the first place and what the political and economic situations were immediately after the USSR’s collapse. It’s safe to say that things have gone better for Central Asia than Rashid predicted, except maybe in Turkmenistan.
September 4, 2017
Even with the new intro, the book is dated. It did, however, provide a good historical view of the Central Asian countries that emerged from the USSR. maybe because so much of the book originated in the author's new reporting, there was some repetition in the chapters. still well worth the read.
Read
November 10, 2025Requires extensive background knowledge to keep up.
No rating because it wouldn’t be fair to the writer. It may be wonderful to a well read audience.
No rating because it wouldn’t be fair to the writer. It may be wonderful to a well read audience.
August 17, 2016
its a quite dry book
but informative and give interesting info. when someone listens the names of these countries one considers that they will be same like other islamic countries but they are not.
they got independence without struggle and interestingly were not ready for it.
elite class and ruling class supported communism. and they looked towards russia for aid and defence.
but this book does not have the present information about these countries
but informative and give interesting info. when someone listens the names of these countries one considers that they will be same like other islamic countries but they are not.
they got independence without struggle and interestingly were not ready for it.
elite class and ruling class supported communism. and they looked towards russia for aid and defence.
but this book does not have the present information about these countries
July 1, 2016
A very comprehensive book that fully justifies its title.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews