The Central Asian Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan won their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Now they are emerging from the shadow of dominance and are subjects of intense interest from the West. The modern culture and customs of the various peoples in these geopolitical hotspots, straddling the far reaches of Europe into Asia, are revealed to a general audience for the first time. This will be the must-have volume for a broad, authoritative overview of these traditional civilizations as they cope with globalization.

With exhaustive coverage on one of the world's most diverse and exciting countries, "Culture and Customs of Turkey" is an essential addition to high school and public library shelves. Illustrative accounts of past traditions help readers to understand contemporary culture today, covering such customs as religious beliefs, folklore, gender issues, art, performing arts, cuisine, and festivals. Students will learn how Turkey has become culturally rich and diverse, mixing Western and Eastern traditions to form a unique bridge between Europe and Asia. This latest volume in the Culture and Customs of Europe series is a must-have for high school students studying world history and culture, as well as for general readers interested in global hotspots.

Swirling with both Western and Eastern traditions, sitting on the edge of the war in the Middle East, Turkey is one of the world's cultural and political hotspots.With exhaustive coverage on one of the world's most diverse and exciting countries, "Culture and Customs of Turkey" is an essential addition to high school and public library shelves. Illustrative accounts of past traditions help readers to understand contemporary culture today, covering such customs as religious beliefs, folklore, gender issues, art, performing arts, cuisine, and festivals. Students will learn how Turkey has become culturally rich and diverse, mixing Western and Eastern traditions to form a unique bridge between Europe and Asia. This latest volume in the Culture and Customs of Europe series is a must-have for high school students studying world history and culture, as well as for general readers interested in global hotspots.

Turkmenistan is known for its huge oil and gas resources, as well as for the rich, complex, and captivating history of the Turkmen people. For centuries they were known as skillful and courageous warriors who left deep marks in the histories of other countries, such as India, Russia, Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt. As craftsmen, they constructed extraordinary architectural monuments, whose ruins can be found all over the country, and famous Turkoman carpets are still highly valued in many parts of the world. Yet, for centuries, foreign invaders and local tribal conflict plagued the land with wars that devastated the Turkmen society and destroyed its magnificent but fragile oases. In the late 19th century, the Turkmens witnessed the establishment of the Russian Empire in their lands. In the years following, these lands were united by the Soviet government into a single political entity in an attempt to force the Soviet style nation-state building and socio-economic transformations. In 1991, the Turkmen parliament voted for the country's independence and promised to build a sovereign state capable of bringing prosperity and social and political stability to the society. The reality, however, proved to be more complex. After more than 15 years of independence, Turkmenistan still faces a number of difficulties, including economic and structural issues, security challenges, growing competition between various clans, and widespread poverty. Historical Dictionary of Turkmenistan provides a concise overview of the historical development of Turkmenistan. The introduction and chronology provide an overview of the Turkmen history, focusing on the history of the country in the 20th century, political and economic development, ethnic policies, and nation building. This is the first comprehensive reference book on Turkmenistan published in English that provides comprehensive up-to-date details about the contemporary history, economy, and culture. The dictionary consists of approximately 300 entries a

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

In response to the shaky record of the international community's peacekeeping and conflict management efforts, academics and policymakers have begun to re-examine conflict prevention as a key instrument for the advancement of peace in a war-torn world. In Conflict Prevention from Rhetoric to Reality, Volume 1: Organizations and Institutions conflict prevention specialists from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with professional experience in regional organizations, the UN, and various NGOs and research organizations, argue that, as a concept as well as a policy, conflict prevention is moving beyond rhetorical commitments and symbolic, ad hoc, activities. Institutional, long-term efforts specifically targeted at the prevention of violent conflict have become more than just wishful thinking. Together with local actors, many governments, regional organizations and the UN are embracing preventive action as a viable path towards sustainable peace. The contributions to this volume trace conflict prevention efforts in various regional contexts and explain how preventive thinking is being successfully mainstreamed into the activities of regional organizations and the UN. They show that, while conflicts may not always be prevented, even in cases where reliable monitoring triggers effective early warning and preventive action, the likelihood of an outbreak of violent conflict can be greatly reduced by determined, systematic efforts to address the root causes of potential violence.

In response to the shaky record of the international community's peacekeeping and conflict management efforts, academics and policymakers have begun to re-examine conflict prevention as a key instrument for the advancement of peace in a war-torn world. In Conflict Prevention from Rhetoric to Reality, Volume 1: Organizations and Institutions conflict prevention specialists from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas, with professional experience in regional organizations, the UN, and various NGOs and research organizations, argue that, as a concept as well as a policy, conflict prevention is moving beyond rhetorical commitments and symbolic, ad hoc, activities. Institutional, long-term efforts specifically targeted at the prevention of violent conflict have become more than just wishful thinking. Together with local actors, many governments, regional organizations and the UN are embracing preventive action as a viable path towards sustainable peace. The contributions to this volume trace conflict prevention efforts in various regional contexts and explain how preventive thinking is being successfully mainstreamed into the activities of regional organizations and the UN. They show that, while conflicts may not always be prevented, even in cases where reliable monitoring triggers effective early warning and preventive action, the likelihood of an outbreak of violent conflict can be greatly reduced by determined, systematic efforts to address the root causes of potential violence.

Summer Evening, Prairie Night, Land of Golden Wheat: The Outside World in Kazakh Literature offers students the best examples of Kazakh literature covering the twentieth century. The book features, in English translation, works from pre-soviet, soviet, and post-soviet Kazakhstan, and introduces students to the rich literary traditions that formed between nomads and nature. It gives students the opportunity to read the unique prose and poetry traditions of the Central Asia steppes and Eurasia. The first part of the text is devoted to poetry, while the second part presents prose including short stories and excerpts from novellas and novels. Selected readings will enhance the understanding of unique nomadic way of life in the great Eurasia Steppe, and introduce the works of poets and writers who represent Kazakhstan's literary and intellectual history. The book includes an extensive glossary of vocabulary specific to the region. This helps students to understand and appreciate not only the reading selections, but further explore the relationship between the nomads and the fragile environment around them. Written for general audiences and intended as a supplemental reader for courses in Slavic, Middle Eastern, Russian, and Soviet literature or Central Asian studies and world history, and the history of world civilizations, Summer Evening, Prairie Night, Land of Golden Wheat also contributes to a global discourse on culture, sustainable development, and ecoculture.

Featuring first-time translations of numerous examples of modern Kazakh literature for publication in the USA, this anthology provides excellent examples of literary life in both Soviet and post-Soviet Kazakhstan, and introduces readers to the rich literary traditions of the region. The materials introduce the rich literary heritage of Kazakhstan, which is a part of the unique prose and poetry traditions of the Central Asia steppes and Eurasia.
The selected readings will enhance the understanding of unique nomadic culture and Central Asian universe of the great Eurasia Steppe, which, in the words of British Chancellor George Curzon, has charms for the historian, the archeologist, the man of science . "The Stories of the Great Steppe" was designed as an a supplementary reader and textbook for students and general public studying 20th century Eastern European, Russian, and Central Asian literature, culture, and intellectual history. It can be used in courses on Slavic literature, Russian and Soviet literature, Russian cultural history, World History, and the History of World Civilizations.
Dr. Rafis Abazov is an adjunct professor at Columbia University (New York, USA) and a visiting professor at Al Farabi Kazakh National University (Almaty, Kazakhstan). He has written six books, including "The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics" (2007), "Green Desert: The Life and Poetry of Olzhas Suleimenov" (2011), and "The Stories of the Great Steppe" (2013). His research interests and publications focus on cultural globalization and the intellectual history of Central Eurasia and Russia, as well as public policy, governance, and contemporary cultural, intellectual and political trends in the region.

"Green Desert: The Life and Poetry of Olzhas Suleimenov" is the first comprehensive translation of Olzhas Suleimenov's poetry in English. The book provides a concise overview of the poet's rich literary heritage and serves as an introduction to the contemporary literature of Kazakhstan and Eurasia. Suleimenov, whom Russian poet Andrei Voznesensky once aptly called "Asia at the Steering Wheel," has emerged as one of Kazakhstan's and Central Asia's most influential intellectuals, authors, and poets of the last half century. Since 1991, Suleimenov has encouraged Kazakhstanis to embrace globalization, liberal democratic values, a moderate, all-inclusive "civil nationalism," and a balanced approach to building positive relations with both West and East alike.
For Western readers, "Green Desert" serves as an introduction to an unfamiliar universe and to the vibrant mystic poetry of the Kazakh steppe. It is designed as a supplementary text for students of twentieth-century Russian and Central Asian literature, culture, and intellectual history. This work is also useful for general audiences who wish to learn about modern literary trends in Kazakhstan, a nation where Western and Eastern traditions come together in a strikingly unique way.
Dr. Rafis Abazov is adjunct associate professor at Hunter College and Columbia University (New York). He has written six books, including "The Culture and Customs of the Central Asian Republics." His research interests and publications focus on cultural globalization, as well as the intellectual history of Central Eurasia and Russia, and public policy and contemporary trends in the region.