Uzbekistan and the United States: Authoritarianism, Islamism and Washington's Security Agenda

ISBN-13: 9781842774236 / Angielski / Miękka / 2005 / 180 str.

Shahram Akbarzadeh

Opis

Uzbekistan, the most strategically situated Central Asian country, has exhibited the most appalling record on human rights and democratic reforms. Yet, post - September 11, a transformation in US policy has suddenly taken place. US troops are now stationed there; Washington has put the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan on its list of terrorist organizations; and the Bush administration has promised to triple aid to President Karimov s highly authoritarian regime.
This unique study explores the central question from a longer-term Uzbek point of view: to what extent are closer ties between Washington and Tashkent contributing to political reforms inside Uzbekistan? Dr Akbarzadeh describes political events since independence, including the emergence of a radical Islamic opposition. He analyses how September 11 has catalysed a transformation in Washington s attitude as it perceived a common Islamic enemy, and he examines the possible beginnings of a retreat from Soviet-style politics."

Recenzje

'The more or less great games of Central Asia on occasion produce strange alliances. One of the stranger marriages of convenience is the match between Uzbekistan and the US. Shahram Akbarzadeh reviews its evolution, motives, strengths and pitfalls succinctly in this neat, well-researched and timely monograph. The book usefully contains documents which are difficult to obtain elsewhere.'
Europe-Asia Studies

'Akbarzadeh's articulative book is a timely contribution to the study of Central Asia in that it provides a definitive account of the sociopolitical developments.'
Mehmet Kalyoncu, Center for Eurasian, Russia, and East European Studies, Georgetown University

'Akbarzadeh is careful in his use of ... sources, and few scholars or policy makers will quarrel with his overall conclusions about the nature of Karimov's regime and the overall shape of US and Uzbek foreign policy ... [a] concise and well written account.'
The International History Review

Spis treści

Foreword by Yaacov Ro'i
1. From Soviet to post-Soviet authoritarianism
2. Islamic challenge
3. Tashkent's foreign policy decisions
4. Uzbekistan and the United States: A difficult relationship
5. September 11 and the 'war on terror'
6. Human rights and democracy
7. Prospects for authoritarian withdrawal
Appendixes

O autorze

Akbarzadeh, Shahram
Dr Shahram Akbarzadeh is a Senior Lecturer in Global Politics at the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Monash University, Victoria, Australia. He has researched, and published on Central Asia affairs for a decade. Dr Akbarzadeh co-authored the Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan (Scarecrow Press, 2002) and co-edited Muslim Communities in Australia (Uni of New South Wales Press, 2001) and Islam and Political Legitimacy (Routledge/Curzon, 2003).