The Resurgence Of Central Asia: Islam Or Nationalism?/M . Ehsan Ahrari معرفی و نقد

What is important to note here is that dur‌ing both revolutions, Russia had to encounter a Central Asia that "was in the throes of an internal revolution in which Islam, tribalism, nationalism, and socialism were fiercely competing for ideological dominance amongst the local elite and masses. " One reason why no political independence movement took root in Central Asia, according to Rashid, was the fact that the native elite was extremely small, remained deeply divided, and failed to broaden its support among the masses. This explanation about the powerful presence of Islam in Central Asia also speaks volumes about the political culture of that region. It also explains why Central Asian countries' ties with a democratic or a nondemocratic Russia in the coming years are not likely to be smooth. The deliberate policy of "Russification" that was aimed purportedly at creating a "new Soviet man" was in reality a systematic campaign to deprive the Central Asian masses of their culture, religion, language, and ethnic identity (p. While Russia and the West are trying to pull Central Asia away from the Islamic world, its Muslim neighbors are determined to build a greater economic and political consensus with the Central Asian states. 250) In closing, Rashid writes: Central Asia will have to find its own way to real freedom, and that will have to draw upon its own magnificent past and the best mod‌ernizing influences that the outside world has to offer.