Most political observers agree that the independent Central Asian states are destined to play very significant geopolitical roles. Their natural resources are already attracting considerable investment, and one of the great mysteries of this decade is just how these large, little-known, potentially powerful countries will affect both their neighbours and the rest of the world.

This fascinating collection of essays, with contributions from many of the leading experts in the field, provides a wealth of material on the region and will be an extremely valuable source for all those concerned with its study.