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The New Central Asia: The Creation of Nations
Examines the political development of central Asia, from Russian conquests to the "War on Terror" and beyond
During the anti-Gorbachev coup in August 1991 most communist leaders from Soviet central Asia backed the plotters. Within weeks of the coup's collapse, those same leaders―now transformed into ardent nationalists―proclaimed the independence of their nations, adopted new flags and new slogans, and discovered a new patriotism.
How were these new nations built, among peoples without any traditional nationalist heritage and no history of independent governance? Olivier Roy argues that Soviet practice had always been to build on local institutions and promote local elites, and that Soviet administration―as opposed to Soviet rhetoric―was always surprisingly decentralized in the far-flung corners of the empire. Thus, with home-grown political leaders and administrative institutions, national identities in central Asia emerged almost by stealth.
Roy's analysis of the new states in central Asia―Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikstan, Kirghizstan and Azerbaijan―provides a glimpse of the future of an increasingly fragmented and dangerous region.
During the anti-Gorbachev coup in August 1991 most communist leaders from Soviet central Asia backed the plotters. Within weeks of the coup's collapse, those same leaders―now transformed into ardent nationalists―proclaimed the independence of their nations, adopted new flags and new slogans, and discovered a new patriotism.
How were these new nations built, among peoples without any traditional nationalist heritage and no history of independent governance? Olivier Roy argues that Soviet practice had always been to build on local institutions and promote local elites, and that Soviet administration―as opposed to Soviet rhetoric―was always surprisingly decentralized in the far-flung corners of the empire. Thus, with home-grown political leaders and administrative institutions, national identities in central Asia emerged almost by stealth.
Roy's analysis of the new states in central Asia―Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tadjikstan, Kirghizstan and Azerbaijan―provides a glimpse of the future of an increasingly fragmented and dangerous region.
1 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
About the author
Olivier Roy
95 books202 followersA professor at the European University Institute in Florence (Italy); he was previously a research director at the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and a lecturer for both the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) and the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris (IEP).
From 1984 to 2008, he has acted as a consultant to the French Foreign Ministry.
In 1988, Roy served as a United Nations Office for Coordinating Relief in Afghanistan (UNOCA) consultant.
Beginning in August 1993, Roy served as special OSCE representative to Tajikistan until February 1994, at which time he was selected as head of the OSCE mission to Tajikistan, a position he held until October 1994.
Roy received an "Agrégation" in Philosophy and a Master's in Persian language and civilization in 1972 from the French Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.
In 1996, he received his PhD in Political Science from the IEP.
Roy is the author of numerous books on subjects including Iran, Islam, Asian politics. These works include Globalized Islam: The search for a new ummah, Today's Turkey: A European State? and The Illusions of September 11.
He also serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Central Asian Survey.
His best-known book, L'Echec de l'Islam politique; The Failure of Political Islam. It is a standard text for students of political Islam.
Roy wrote widely on the subject of the 2005 civil unrest in France saying they should not be seen as religiously inspired as some commentators said.
His most recent work is Secularism Confronts Islam (Columbia, 2007). The book offers a perspective on the place of Islam in secular society and looks at the diverse experiences of Muslim immigrants in the West. Roy examines how Muslim intellectuals have made it possible for Muslims to live in a secularized world while maintaining the identity of a "true believer."
From 1984 to 2008, he has acted as a consultant to the French Foreign Ministry.
In 1988, Roy served as a United Nations Office for Coordinating Relief in Afghanistan (UNOCA) consultant.
Beginning in August 1993, Roy served as special OSCE representative to Tajikistan until February 1994, at which time he was selected as head of the OSCE mission to Tajikistan, a position he held until October 1994.
Roy received an "Agrégation" in Philosophy and a Master's in Persian language and civilization in 1972 from the French Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales.
In 1996, he received his PhD in Political Science from the IEP.
Roy is the author of numerous books on subjects including Iran, Islam, Asian politics. These works include Globalized Islam: The search for a new ummah, Today's Turkey: A European State? and The Illusions of September 11.
He also serves on the editorial board of the academic journal Central Asian Survey.
His best-known book, L'Echec de l'Islam politique; The Failure of Political Islam. It is a standard text for students of political Islam.
Roy wrote widely on the subject of the 2005 civil unrest in France saying they should not be seen as religiously inspired as some commentators said.
His most recent work is Secularism Confronts Islam (Columbia, 2007). The book offers a perspective on the place of Islam in secular society and looks at the diverse experiences of Muslim immigrants in the West. Roy examines how Muslim intellectuals have made it possible for Muslims to live in a secularized world while maintaining the identity of a "true believer."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 7, 2015
1924-1936 arasındaki Stalinist milliyetler politikasıyla ve her türlü "Pan-... sapmayı önleme gayesiyle, adeta bir devrimci deney tüpünde kurgulanan ve imal edilen", bilahare 1990'lı yıllarda artık kemikleşmiş bu temel üzerinde bağımsızlıklarını kazanan halkların ve kültürlerin enteresan hikayesi... 1997'de yayınlanan kitap, bölgeyle ilgili hala bir başucu kaynağı niteliğinde. 2014 yazında Moskova'dayken, Amazon'dan kitabı ısmarladığımda, Rusya'ya girişinin yasak olduğu cevabını almıştım. Haksız da sayılmaz Ruslar, ama bilhassa Orta Asya'daki yeni elitleri rahatsız edecek tezler var içerisinde...
Kitapta özellikle Özbek ve Taciklerlere ilişkin bölümler çok iyi kaleme alınmış; Kazakistan kısmı da fena değil, ama Türkmen, Azeri ve Kırgız kısımları diğerlerine göre çok yüzeysel kalmış.
Türk Dünyasıyla ilgilenenlere ve bölge jeopolitiğinin gerçekleriyle yüzleşmek isteyenlere özellikle tavsiye olunur...
Kitapta özellikle Özbek ve Taciklerlere ilişkin bölümler çok iyi kaleme alınmış; Kazakistan kısmı da fena değil, ama Türkmen, Azeri ve Kırgız kısımları diğerlerine göre çok yüzeysel kalmış.
Türk Dünyasıyla ilgilenenlere ve bölge jeopolitiğinin gerçekleriyle yüzleşmek isteyenlere özellikle tavsiye olunur...
September 1, 2022
useful book, although weaker on local identification with the identities created.
July 19, 2012
This is one of those history books that are as dry as old bones. Imparts some useful information, but there are other books that cover the material in which the interesting subject flourishes. (Adeeb Khalid or Svat Soucek)
March 22, 2008
Good insights, but heavy on the psychobabble. Sociopoliticobabble? Lots of "solidarity groups" and other things that people didn't know they were thinking.
January 9, 2009
Deadly dull academic book.
January 14, 2021
Olivier Roy Orta Asya ile birlikte Türkiye'yi de çok iyi tanıyor. Yakın akrabalarımız diye bilinen ama artık pek de ortak yönümüzün kalmadığı Orta Asya devletlerinin röntgenini çekiyor, çok değerli tespitlerde bulunuyor. Özellikle Türkiye ile kıyaslamaları çok isabetli. Ancak kitap sizden belli bir bilgi seviyesi bekliyor. Özellikle tarih anlattığı bölümler çok detaysız ve genellikle okurun üzerine sürüsüyle bilmediği isimin fırlatılması ve bundan anlam çıkarmamızın beklenmesi şeklinde geçiyor. 90'larda Sovyetler ve Orta Asya'daki değişimler hakkında bilginiz hiç yoksa özellikle çok zorlayıcı bir kitap olacaktır. Yazılmasının üzerinden çeyrek asır geçmesiyle bazı bölümlerdeki tespitlerin güncelliği de uçmuş gitmiş. Ama hala değerli bir eser.
December 21, 2023
Written in 2000, this looks at the Central Asian states that made up the Soviet Union (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan). Roy gets into the history of the states and how ethnic identity in the region is a new concept, and only briefly touches on the issues faced by the states in the post-Soviet era. Published before 9/11, this is now largely outdated information though, and should only really be read in a historiographical sense.
November 9, 2018
I enjoyed reading Roy's analysis and presentation of Central Asian history and politics from the Soviet Union to the present.
February 17, 2017
The book provides a very useful introduction to the region for readers unfamiliar with the Central Asian region.
June 16, 2008
Excellent introduction for anyone wanting to know more about the "-stans." A concise account of where they've come from and where they're going.
July 12, 2016
Another great book by Roy.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews