Central Asia: Difference between revisions
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The term '''Central Asia''' is not precisely defined. In one common usage it designates five geographically adjacent predominantly Muslim former Soviet republics — [[Kazakhstan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]]. For example, that definition is often used by the UN <ref>{{citation | The term '''Central Asia''' is not precisely defined. In one common usage it designates five geographically adjacent predominantly Muslim former Soviet republics — [[Kazakhstan]], [[Tajikistan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kyrgyzstan]]. For example, that definition is often used by the UN <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = UN map of CentralAsia | | title = UN map of CentralAsia | ||
| url=http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/centrasia.pdf}}</ref> <ref>{{citation | | url=http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/centrasia.pdf}}</ref> | ||
| title = Country list | <ref>{{citation | ||
| title = Country list for Central Asia | |||
| Publisher = UN Office on Drugs & Crime | | Publisher = UN Office on Drugs & Crime | ||
|url=http://www.unodc.org/uzbekistan/en/country_profile.html UN site}}</ref>. | |url=http://www.unodc.org/uzbekistan/en/country_profile.html UN site}}</ref>. | ||
Revision as of 01:45, 15 February 2009
The term Central Asia is not precisely defined. In one common usage it designates five geographically adjacent predominantly Muslim former Soviet republics — Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. For example, that definition is often used by the UN [1] [2].
Afghanistan can reasonably be added, since it is closely related culturally and historically to those nations and geographically contiguous with them. Azerbaijan can also reasonably be included; it is not geographically contiguous, but it is a former Soviet republic that is mainly Muslim. Some Western strategic studies [3] therefore include it. The UN Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia includes both Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.
Some definitions are broader yet. Some [4] include what is now the Chinese province of Xinjiang, a predominantly Muslim area with a language related to Turkish, calling it "East Turkestan". Arguably, Mongolia and various other areas could be included as well.
References
- ↑ UN map of CentralAsia
- ↑ UN site Country list for Central Asia
- ↑ M.E. Ahrari with J. Beal (January 1996), The New Great Name in Muslim Central Asia, Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, McNair Paper Number 47
- ↑ Mark Dickens, The Transoxania Pages: Central Asian history, languages, literature and culture