Central Asia



CENTRAL ASIA NotesCountries that were part of the Soviet UnionKazakhstan (Alma-ata, Almaty) Uzbekistan (Tashkent)Turkmenistan (Ashkabad)Kyrgystan (Bishkek)Tajikistan (Dushanbe)Azerbaijan (Baku, Baki)Afghanistan, invaded but never conquered by the British, then the Soviets. US fighting there since 2001Mongolia & Tibet will be considered with China Trans-Caucasus Former SSRsGeorgia and Armenia are now considered to be part of Europe, but not Azerbaijan, Baku (Baki). Important oil fields near Baku. Also iron ore and cobalt. High yield winter wheat and fruits. Produces iron, steel, cement, fertilizers, synthetic rubber, electrical and chemical equipment. Borders Iran and Turkey. Ethnic strife between the Shi’ite Islamic Azeris and the isolated Armenian Christians in Nagorno-KarabakhFormer Central Asian RepublicsAll are predominantly Islamic, none are considered to be part of “Arabia,” but some Arabs are there.Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata (Almaty). Extends from the lower reaches of the Volga to the Chinese border. Over half the population are Russian and Ukrainian, especially in the north, working the virgin grain lands opened up in 1954, and in the growing industries. Vast deposits of coal, oil, iron, tin, copper, lead, zinc, etc. Fish from Lake Balkhash and the Caspian and Aral Seas. Great desertification, industrial pollution. The location of the Russian (then Soviet space program).Turkmenistan, Ashkhabad (Ashgabad). Turkmen speakers. Produces cotton, maize, carpets, chemicals. Minerals are oil, coal, sulfur, lime, salt, barite, gypsum. The Kara Kum desert occupies 80 % of the area.Uzbekistan, Tashkent (Toshkent). Uzbek speakers. Most important economically of the Central Asian republics, produced 70% of USSR's cotton, 50% of the rice, 33% of the silk, 85% of the hemp, 34% of the astrakhan (curly wool from young sheep). Industries include iron, steel, cars, tractors, small appliances, textiles, food. Minerals are coal, sulfur, copper, and oil.Tajikistan, Dushanbe. Borders on China and Afghanistan. Over half the population are Tajiks, mostly Muslims, speaking an Iranian dialect. Small farming and cattle ranching. Mineral rich with coal and hydroelectric power.Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. In eastern former Soviet Central Asia, on the frontier of Xinjiang, China. Cattle and horses, tobacco, cotton, rice, sugar beets. Machinery and chemicals. The republics were theoretically equal to RSFSR (Russia), but in reality it was the leader with 1/2 the population, most of the cities and most of the industry, and 3/4 of its territory. Theoretically the country's constitution permitted each republic to carry on its own foreign policy, issue its own money, and even secede from the union, but nothing like that happened until after 1989. Tremendous variety of racial, cultural, linguistic and religious groups, and some freedom was tolerated. A certain amount of social and economic progress occurred under Soviet domination, unification of vast areas and diverse population; education, housing, economic opportunity similar to other colonial defensesLocal culture was sustained (while all religion was discouraged), Russification was relentlessly pursued, = acculturation, pressure to conform exerted by powerful outsiders.Afghanistan, KabulAfghanistan's recent history is characterized by war and civil unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 but was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist Mujahideen forces supplied and trained by the US, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and others. Fighting subsequently continued among the various Mujahidin factions, giving rise to a state of warlordism that eventually spawned the Taliban. Backed by foreign sponsors, the Taliban developed as a political force and eventually seized power. The Taliban were able to capture most of the country, aside from Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast, until US and allied military action in support of the opposition following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks forced the group's downfall. By 2007 or earlier, the Taliban have regrouped and the US is still fighting them all over the country.In late 2001, major leaders from the Afghan opposition groups and diaspora met in Bonn, Germany and agreed on a plan for the formulation of a new government structure that resulted in the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority (AIA) on 22 December 2001. The AIA held a nationwide Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly) in June 2002, and Karzai was elected President by secret ballot of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan (TISA). The Transitional Authority has an 18-month mandate to hold a nationwide Loya Jirga to adopt a constitution and a 24-month mandate to hold nationwide elections. In December 2002, the TISA marked the one-year anniversary of the fall of the Taliban. Former Afghani leader, Hamid Karzai with Colin Powell.In addition to occasionally violent political jockeying and ongoing military action to root out remaining terrorists and Taliban elements, the country suffers from enormous poverty, a crumbling infrastructure, and widespread land mines. If that weren’t enough, there is a resurgence of the Taliban.Ashraf Ghani was elected president in 2014.Taliban men beating a woman for removing a burqa in public, Kabul, 2001. ................
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