A leading authority on Central Asia offers a sweeping review of the region's path from independence to the post-9/11 world. The first decade of Central Asian independence was disappointing for those who envisioned a straightforward transition from Soviet republics to independent states with market economies and democratic political systems. Leaders excused political failures by pointing to security risks, including the presence of terrorist training camps in Afghanistan. The situation changed dramatically after 9/11, when the camps were largely destroyed and the United States introduced a military presence.
More importantly the international community engaged with these states to give them a "second chance" to address social and economic problems. But neither the aid-givers nor the recipients were willing to approach problems in new ways. Now, terrorists groups are once again making their presence felt and some states may be becoming global security risks. This book explores how the region squandered its second chance and what might happen next.

"Dr. Martha Brill Olcott is one of America's leading experts on Central Asia, and her publications have done much to stimulate and engender American academic and policy interest in the field, especially after the Central Asian states became independent in 1991. She brings to this book years of firsthand experience, research, and travel throughout the area." -Stephen J. Blank, US Army War College, Parameters, 9/1/2006

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"Olcott has established herself as one of the leading US experts on Central Asia

" - Journal of Peace Research

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"Brill Olcott's volume provides a timely and valuable study of political and economic developments in the Central Asian states from the advent of independence in 1991 through to mid-2005. A leading US expert on the region, Brill Olcott brings a wealth of expertise and detail to her analysis, which is nonetheless accessible to the general reader." -Annette Bohr, Chatham House, International Affairs, 3/1/2006