NS3412 Government and Security in the Central Asian Republics

With China and Russia taking an ever increasing greater interest in central Asia, U.S. policy makers face the challenge of maintaining an influential presence in the region. Over a decade since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the five Central Asian Republics have emerged as a critical security issue as WMDs, terrorists and hard-line regimes have come to dominate the landscape. In a land where Islam is more cultural than religious, communism more trusted than capitalism, and ethnic divisions a Soviet invention, how can stable democracies emerge? This course will represent a comprehensive assessment of the newly formed states of central Asia that were formerly parts of the Soviet Union. Through examination of the complex historical, ethnic, religious, and linguistic factors that unite and divide the Central Asian Region, we will better understand the challenges of political modernization, economic reform, and integration into the international community. The course topics will include; the history of the region; the relationship between Islam and Central Asia; environmental issues; economic development and emerging energy markets in the region; the contemporary political scene; and the role of the region in world affairs. Special emphasis will be placed on the contemporary crises in the region. Prerequisites: None.

Lecture Hours

4

Lab Hours

0