Central Asia : views from Washington, Moscow, and Beijing /

A renewal of great power competition and a focus on international terrorism have combined to direct increased global attention to the five former Soviet republics that compose Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Particularly since 9/11, the geopolitical location of Central Asia has been of concern to China, Russia, and the US. The engagement of these great powers in Central Asia is examined respectively in the chapters contributed by Eugene Rumer, Dmitri Trenin, and Huasheng Zhao. An introduction by Rajan Menon provides a context for the chapters that follow. Rumer's analysis highlights the Bush administration's efforts to promote democracy and fight international terrorism, but recognizes the significance of economic considerations. Trenin focuses on Russia's security interests broadly defined and the economic importance of Central Asia to Russia. Zhao presents China's policy primarily as a concern for border security in areas with significant minority and Muslim populations, while noting its growing economic engagement with Central Asia. A common theme throughout the work is the desire in all three capitals to prevent either of the other two great powers from dominating Central Asia's political landscape. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and graduate students. J. M. Peek Lyon College