Historical Dictionary of Kyrgyzstan - (Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle Eas) by Rafis Abazov (Hardcover)

About the Book

This is an essential and must-to-have reference work designed for librarians, scholars, students, for the business and policy-making community, and for anyone interested in Kyrgyzstan's contemporary history and politics. Entries cover important personalities, places, events, a...

Book Synopsis

The modern history of Kyrgyzstan resembles a fascinating history of the Great Game (a term used to describe competition between the British and Russian Empires for domination in Central Asia). For centuries, various great powers and nomadic Khanates attempted to establish an ultimate control over this strategically important land, and the land populated by Kyrgyzs was fragmented between various political entities. Only at the end of the 19th century did the Russian Empire finally acquire control over this region. In 1924 the Kyrgyz land was united into a single political entity in the controversial and still widely debated border delimitation process. In 1991 Kyrgyzstan declared its independence and began building a democratic and market-oriented state. However, very soon the newly independent country found itself in the center of the political competition for influence between such powers as China, Russia and the USA. This competition finally landed the US and Russian military airbases in Kyrgyzstan's territory in what some analysts describe as a new round of the Great Game.

The Historical Dictionary of Kyrgystan provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the historical development of Kyrgyzstan. The introduction and chronology provide an overview of the Kyrgyz history, focusing on the history of the country in the 20th century. The author carefully assesses the key issues in Kyrgyzstan's attempt to develop democratic and market-oriented institutions, and to keep militant elements at a bay. He overviews the growth of political organizations and NGOs and the struggle for power between various formal and informal political groups and institutions.

This is the first comprehensive reference book on Kyrgyzstan, which provides superb up-to-date details about the key players and key issues in contemporary domestic and international politics of Kyrgyzstan. The dictionary consists of approximately 300 entries and is cross-referenced to make sure that it is easy to use by both experienced scholars a

Review Quotes

"Provides useful reference materials, statistical data and an extensive bibliography, thus taking this book beyond a simple reference source and making it helpful in understanding most important regional issues in the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries...In sum, this extensively researched and intelligently written reference book represents a valuable and most updated supplement to the existing literature on Central Asia...it is a must-have on the desks of researchers and policy makers or even travelers and general public who have an interest in this country." --Unisci Discussion Papers

"There is no comparable, up-to-date reference book for Kyrgyzstan. Recommended. All academic and public libraries." --Choice Reviews

"This handy-sized volume resembles more a Whitaker's Almanac-type handbook on Kyrgyzstan than the simple historical dictionary its name implies...thoroughgoing coverage...maps...a chronology...a very competent description of the geography and history of the Kyrgyz...an interesting summary of academic work on the Kyrgyz...a very comprehensive bibliography...between all of this detail is sandwiched the actual dictionary." --Asian Affairs

"This work is recommended for all library country study collections." --American Reference Books Annual

"Rafis Abazov is one of our best qualified experts on Central Asia....Before any serious venture into the economies of countries like these, a historical dictionary like those provided by Rafis Abazov should be in your luggage." --Comparative Economic Studies

"The academic community, the press, and decision-makers in various governments who have frequently seen Kyrgyzstan through the eyes of Moscow and who now have to deal with a new political entity, need the new source of information that this publication provides." --Central Eurasian Studies Review

"...a much welcome contribution...Abazov's work is to be recommended as a useful reference volume to anyone dealing with Kyrgyzstan." --Nationalities Papers

"An outstanding contribution to the scholarship on Kyrgyzstan. Abazov provides a historical sketch that deftly summaries both Kyrgyz history and the contemporary political landscape....a must-have reference book for the serious student of Kyrgyzstan." --Central Asia: A Global Studies Handbook

...a much welcome contribution...Abazov's work is to be recommended as a useful reference volume to anyone dealing with Kyrgyzstan.

An outstanding contribution to the scholarship on Kyrgyzstan. Abazov provides a historical sketch that deftly summaries both Kyrgyz history and the contemporary political landscape....a must-have reference book for the serious student of Kyrgyzstan.

Provides useful reference materials, statistical data and an extensive bibliography, thus taking this book beyond a simple reference source and making it helpful in understanding most important regional issues in the 20th and the beginning of the 21st centuries...In sum, this extensively researched and intelligently written reference book represents a valuable and most updated supplement to the existing literature on Central Asia...it is a must-have on the desks of researchers and policy makers or even travelers and general public who have an interest in this country.

Rafis Abazov is one of our best qualified experts on Central Asia....Before any serious venture into the economies of countries like these, a historical dictionary like those provided by Rafis Abazov should be in your luggage.

The academic community, the press, and decision-makers in various governments who have frequently seen Kyrgyzstan through the eyes of Moscow and who now have to deal with a new political entity, need the new source of information that this publication provides.

There is no comparable, up-to-date reference book for Kyrgyzstan. Recommended. All academic and public libraries.

This handy-sized volume resembles more a Whitaker's Almanac-type handbook on Kyrgyzstan than the simple historical dictionary its name implies...thoroughgoing coverage...maps...a chronology...a very competent description of the geography and history of the Kyrgyz...an interesting summary of academic work on the Kyrgyz...a very comprehensive bibliography...between all of this detail is sandwiched the actual dictionary.

This work is recommended for all library country study collections.

About the Author

Rafis Abazovis a visiting scholar at the Harriman Institute at Columbia University, New York. He is the author of two books and numerous articles in Kazakhstani, Russian, and other international academic journals. He has contributed articles to theEncyclopaedia of Modern Asia, and the Encyclopaedia of National Economies.