Everyday Life in Central Asia: Past and Present

Book Overview

For its citizens, contemporary Central Asia is a land of great promise and peril. While the end of Soviet rule has opened new opportunities for social mobility and cultural expression, political and economic dynamics have also imposed severe hardships. In this lively volume, contributors from a variety of disciplines examine how ordinary Central Asians lead their lives and navigate shifting historical and political trends. Provocative stories of Turkmen nomads, Afghan villagers, Kazakh scientists, Kyrgyz border guards, a Tajik strongman, guardians of religious shrines in Uzbekistan, and other narratives illuminate important issues of gender, religion, power, culture, and wealth. A vibrant and dynamic world of life in urban neighborhoods and small villages, at weddings and celebrations, at classroom tables, and around dinner tables emerges from this introduction to a geopolitically strategic and culturally fascinating region.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253219043
• ISBN13: 9780253219046
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 424 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.2" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A Little Known Region

Zanca and Sahadeo have done an excellent job of collecting a series of essays that illuminate the everyday life lived by the peoples of Central Asia. The collection begins with an excellent essay on the history of Central Asia that makes a difficult subject understandable. Other essays are grouped about topics such as community, gender, performance and encounters, the nation state and, of course, religion. Anyone wishing a deeper understanding of this region would be well-advised to read this book. John G. Chicago