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Evaluation of threat of religious political extremism in the Central Asian region
Islamic themes are increasingly used in the political struggle in Central Asia
Authors:
Y. Tukumov
Publisher:
The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, 2004
This paper provides an analysis of religious political extremism in Central Asia. According to the author, the emergence of extremism is a serious and growing problem for several Central Asian nations.
The paper claims that the following developments contribute to the growth of religious extremism:
- the growing income inequality between Western nations and developing countries
- the double standard of Western and Russian policy towards religious extremist organizations rooted in the Cold War
- the increasing reliance of extremist organizations on technological advances, including those in the military sphere
According to the author, Moslem themes are increasingly used in the political struggle both by political elites and counter-elites, as the role of religion increases following repression in the Soviet period. The author claims that, as stable state institutions are absent, radical Islamic opposition will attempt to capitalize on the weakening political elites.
The author also identifies ongoing regional conflicts as a cause for extremism. The following ones are believed to have the greatest influence on the spread of Islamic extremism in Central Asia:
- the Arab- Israeli conflict
- the India-Pakistan conflict
- the Afghanistan conflict that continues after most of the Taliban guerilla force survived the American assault in 2001
The author identifies the following medium to long- term trends:
- religious and political extremism will remain a threat to the security of Central Asian states
- Islamic organizations are the strongest protesting force in a number of Central Asian states, and the number of their followers is likely to increase
- South Kazakhstan, Jelalabad, Osh, and Batken oblasts in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are the most affected states, with Fergana valley of Uzbekistan being the Central Asian center of religious extremism
- Islamic parties from Arab countries form most of the religious-political organizations since they have the networks and experience to overcome government repression, and have developed political and economic schemes for possible arrangements of a future Moslem state
Summary originally provided by GDNet, an Eldis content partner
