Engaging Central Asia : the European Union's new strategy in the heart of Eurasia

The European Union has identified strengthening its engagement with the states and societies of Central Asia as a major priority. In this volume, leading experts from Europe, North America, and Central Asia explore the challenges for the EU as it seeks to increase its influence in a region that is rich in energy resources but faces growing geopolitical rivalries and is home to some of the world's most authoritarian regimes. The authors identify the key issues for the EU in respect to each of the five states of the region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. They also examine the complex and interrelated issues of security, energy, democratization, regional cooperation, and economic reform in Central Asia.