Syllabus
1. Concepts, Geography, Demography, Society (5.10.)
Key topics: Central Asia as Eurasian pivot or black hole? Different concepts and approaches of the region. Geographical parts of the region.
Readings:
(read at least 2 out of 3 readings)
Bruno J. De Cordier and Jeroen J.J. Van den Bosch: Defining and Delineating Central Asia from a European Perspective. European Handbook of Central Asian Studies. History, Politics, and Society (Jeroen Van den Bosch - Adrien Fauve - Bruno de Cordier), Ibidem Verlag, Stuttgart, 2021, p. 13-38.Available: https://www.ibidem.eu/en/the-european-handbook-of-central-asian-studies-9783838215181.html
Cummings, Sally. „Understanding Central Asia: Politics and Contested Transformations“. Routledge, 2013 (Chapter 2).Available: Jinonice library.
Clarke, Michael. „The centrality of Central Asia in world history 1700-2008. From Pivot to Periphery and Back Again?“ China, Xinjiang and Central Asia. History, transition and crossborder interaction into 21st century (Mackerass, Colin - Clarke Michael, eds.). Routledge, 2009: 21-54.Available in the package and e-databases, libraries.
Presentation readings:
Mackinder, Halford John. "The geographical pivot of history." Geographical Journal 170.4 (2004): 298-321.Available in the package.
Starr, S. Frederick. In Defense of Greater Central Asia. Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, 2008. Available online.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. To which extent “post-Soviet”? (12.10).
Key topics: What remains from the Soviet era? Commonalities and differences.
Readings: Gorshenina, Svetlana: Orientalism, Postcolonial and Decolonial Frames on Central Asia: Theoretical Relevance and Applicability. European Handbook of Central Asian Studies. History, Politics, and Society (Jeroen Van den Bosch - Adrien Fauve - Bruno de Cordier, eds.), Ibidem Verlag, Stuttgart, 2021, p. 175-244.Available online: https://www.ibidem.eu/en/the-european-handbook-of-central-asian-studies-9783838215181.html alternatively:
Lewis, David. „Sovereignty after Empire: The Colonial Roots of Central Asian Authoritarianism“. Sovereignty After Empire. Comparing the Middle East and Central Asia. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2011: 178-196. + Dadabaev, Timur. "Evaluations of perestroika in post-Soviet Central Asia: Public views in contemporary Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan." Communist and Post-Communist Studies 49 (2016): 179-192. Both available in the package.
Additional readings:
Horák, Slavomír. "Turkmenistan at the Last Stage of Perestroika. Determinants of an Authoritarian Path." Cahiers d’Asie centrale 26 (2016): 29-49.Available: https://journals.openedition.org/asiecentrale/3227
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Formal and informal power institutions in Central Asia (19.10.)
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Annotation
The course “Post-Soviet Central Eurasia” gives the students a solid understanding of the nation-building processes in the Central Asian region since the fall of the Soviet Union. The nation-building process consists of three interrelated parts: a) the establishment of a political system and the constitution of informal political elites that enable the exercise of state power, b) the creation of national identity and ideology and c) the economic as well as the social transformation.
Students will receive a comprehensive overview and will be able to comprehend critical issues in Central Asian internal politics.