Boris Z. Rumer

Soviet Central Asia (1989) explores the economic development of the four republics of Central Asia that suffered under Moscow’s economic policies – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kirghizia. The Soviet literary weekly Literaturnaia gazeta described Soviet economic policies there as a ‘tragic experiment’, and this book argues that Central Asia serves as a prime example of the failure of Soviet regional development policies. It analyses the special role of the region in the Soviet economy and such key issues as industrial development, cotton production, water resources and labour. It also addresses the social ramifications of the underdevelopment of the region’s economy and the impact of new policies under Gorbachev.

Soviet Central Asia (1989) explores the economic development of the four republics of Central Asia that suffered under Moscow’s economic policies – Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kirghizia. The Soviet literary weekly Literaturnaia gazeta described Soviet economic policies there as a ‘tragic experiment’, and this book argues that Central Asia serves as a prime example of the failure of Soviet regional development policies. It analyses the special role of the region in the Soviet economy and such key issues as industrial development, cotton production, water resources and labour. It also addresses the social ramifications of the underdevelopment of the region’s economy and the impact of new policies under Gorbachev.

This book focuses on the nerve centers of the contemporary industrial development of a huge region whose economic growth will determine to a decisive extent the rhythm and dynamics of the entire Soviet economy in the foreseeable future.

Investment activity in the Soviet Union is presently undergoing a decline hitherto unknown in the history of the nation: The growth of capital investment has stopped, while levels of production have fallen. One important factor in this phenomenon is the Soviet policy of reindustrialization—shifting new investments into the expansion and improvement of existing facilities—which severely limits capital available for new construction. In this book, Dr. Rumer examines current Soviet investment policies and assesses their impact on economic development, especially in Siberia. Reindustrialization is intended to combine more rapid amortization for updating and retooling, growth in the volume of industrial output, and minimal capital investment. However, concludes Dr. Rumer, this investment pattern hinders the development of Siberia and thus reinforces the spatial polarization of fuel-energy and raw-material resources in the east of the country and the manufacturing industry in the west, with serious consequences for Soviet strategic/military vulnerability and for the Soviet economy.

For better or worse, the former Soviet republics of Central Asia have largely completed their post-independence transitions. Over more than a decade, they have established themselves as independent states whose internal regimes and external relations have characteristic patterns and vulnerabilities both individually and as a group. The purpose of this volume is to assess both what has been accomplished and the trends of development in the region, especially its leading states. How sound are the foundations of this "bulwark against the spread of terrorism" in Eurasia?

For better or worse, the former Soviet republics of Central Asia have largely completed their post-independence transitions. Over more than a decade, they have established themselves as independent states whose internal regimes and external relations have characteristic patterns and vulnerabilities both individually and as a group. The purpose of this volume is to assess both what has been accomplished and the trends of development in the region, especially its leading states. How sound are the foundations of this "bulwark against the spread of terrorism" in Eurasia?

The societies of Central Asia are besieged from within and without. The political elites - virtually unchanged despite the transition to independent statehood - battle radical Islamic movements and other oppositional threats that are continuously fueled by economic instability, corruption, environmental deterioration, and the collapse of social services. This survey of political, economic, and social development in Central Asia offers geopolitical context, unparalleled coverage, and analytical depth to our understanding of a region that appears to be rapidly spiraling into crisis.

The societies of Central Asia are besieged from within and without. The political elites - virtually unchanged despite the transition to independent statehood - battle radical Islamic movements and other oppositional threats that are continuously fueled by economic instability, corruption, environmental deterioration, and the collapse of social services. This survey of political, economic, and social development in Central Asia offers geopolitical context, unparalleled coverage, and analytical depth to our understanding of a region that appears to be rapidly spiraling into crisis.

Central Asia's new states have been buffeted by financial ill winds from East Asia and Russia and by Islamic revolutionary movements from the south. In the context of widespread and deepening impoverishment, endemic corruption, gaping inequalities, and external pressures to undertake difficult reforms, economic crisis threatens to expand into profoundly destabilizing social and political crises as well.This volume analyzes the geopolitical and macroeconomic situation of Central Asia, local policy responses to the current crisis, and alternative scenarios for the foreseeable future. It devotes particular attention to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Beyond the immediate case, the book focuses on policy measures and institutional improvements that could most directly impact the capacity of economies in the region to adapt to the globalization process.

The economic, political, and international profile of Central Asia has been the subject of much speculation since the region emerged from under the Soviet banner. This book offers systematic, informed analysis of developments in the newest of emerging market regions by a team of international experts, including leading in-country specialists. After an astute survey of political regimes by Umirserik Kasenov, Boris Rumer and Stanislav Zhukov present a comprehensive analysis of economic development and integrated issues. In the final four chapters, focused attention is devoted to foreign investment and trade questions and the most critical challenges confronting the two largest states, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The economic, political and geopolitical future of Central Asia has been subject to speculation since the region emerged from under the Soviet banner. With contributions from Central Asian, Russian, US and Japanese experts, this book gives an analysis of the issues and choices facing the region.