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Central Asian Politics

Module description

Central Asia is a fascinating region of the world which is at the centre of many of the economic, environmental and security conundrums of contemporary world politics.  It is both modern and deeply connected to international and global politics in ways that are often unexpected.  This module will introduce you to Central Asia politics through an inter-disciplinary study of its politics and international relations. You will explore the historical emergence of Central Asia and the principal schools of thought with respect to understanding its politics. In the second half you will consider issues of contemporary Central Asian politics through issues, case studies and key events. These include the vanishing of the Aral Sea, the rise of ‘bride kidnapping’ in post-Soviet Central Asia, the nature of Islamism in Uzbekistan, protest movements in Kyrgyzstan, energy politics in Kazakhstan, and western intervention and the war in Afghanistan.  The module draws on films and non-academic literature as well as introducing you to the key academic texts in the study of Central Asian politics. No prior knowledge of the region is assumed.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Central Asia is a region which has received greater international attention since the emergence of the newly independent states after the end of the Soviet Union and the increased interest in the Afghanistan conflict after 2001. It is often misunderstood and is relatively inaccessible to those without a background in the region. This module will introduce you to Central Asia politics through an inter-disciplinary study of its politics and international relations. It explores the historical emergence of Central Asia and the principal schools of thought with respect to understanding its politics. The second half considers issues of contemporary Central Asian politics through issues, case studies and key events. The module draws on film and non-academic literature as well as introducing you to the key academic texts in the study of Central Asian politics.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. critically analyse the modern political history and historiographies of Central Asia;
• 2. critically analyse and deploy theories and discourses of Central Asian politics;
• 3. critically analyse and evaluate concepts and contexts of Central Asian politics;
• 4. critically analyse and evaluate themes and cases of Central Asian politics.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. critically analyse both empirical and theoretical material;
• 6. deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies;
• 7. engage in critique.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 8. comprehend, analyse and evaluate academic texts;
• 9. comprehend, analyse and evaluate primary sources, both verbal and visual;
• 10. construct reasoned argument;
• 11. communicate effectively through well-structured speech and writing;
• 12. work independently and with peers to achieve goals.

Syllabus plan

Indicative course outline (may change from year to year):

1-2. Introducing and imagining Central Asia: literature, travelogue and film.
3-6. History and historiography: before, during and after the Soviet Union / the making of modern Afghanistan.
7-11. Theories and approaches: transition / political economy / state formation / nation, ethnicity and clan politics / symbolic politics.
12-22. Issues and cases:  Gender and bride-kidnapping / Livelihoods and labour migration / Religion and political Islam / Sovereignty and regional cooperation / Water politics and the Aral Sea crisis / Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and the resource curse / Intervention in Afghanistan since 911 / Peacebuilding in Tajikistan / Uzbekistan and the Andijon Uprising / Kyrgyzstan and the Tulip Revolution / China & Xinjiang

Seminars:
Subject knowledge will be communicated in short talks, and developed through private study, reading review exercises, seminar discussions, presentations and assignments. Talks will introduce intellectual and historical contexts and draw on textual sources and cinematic representations as well as case studies as examples.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Montgomery, Central Asia in Context

Cooley & Heathershaw, Dictators without Borders

Khalid, Islam After Communism 

Sahadeo and Zanca, Everyday Life in Central Asia

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Moodle

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

Audio-Video: Central Asian cinema; Fiction and travel writing

Key words search

Central Asia, Afghanistan, conflict, security, energy, gender, environment, Islam, Soviet, Post-Soviet, international relations, post-colonial politics, critical geopolitics