"Conceptually very rich and broad . . . Will outlive the continuous changes that are taking place in the territory of the former Soviet Union."--A. Reza Sheikholeslami, Oriental Institute, St. Antony's College, Oxford University

"A multidisciplinary as well as a multicultural approach to the study of Central Asia. . . . An informative account of history, politics, religions, and the social complexities of the Central Asian societies."--Manochehr Dorraj, Texas Christian University

Leading Western, Russian, and Central Asian scholars examine here the domestic and...