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Article: Emerging Asia: an introduction.
- Article from:
- Faces: People, Places, and Cultures
- Article date:
- April 1, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 changed the world dramatically. Nowhere is that more evident than in the vast spaces of Central Asia, where five new governments--Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan--have taken the place of Soviet rule. The change prompted numerous celebrations. Local pride is strong throughout Central Asia where Islam is the traditional religion, and many people had long viewed the Soviet government, based in the distant Russian city of Moscow, as an unwelcome foreign import. While independence has brought many benefits, challenges remain. The question remains whether it is possible for these countries to move toward ...