THE CIVIL WAR IN TAJIKISTAN HAS BEEN used by Central Asian leaders as a rationale for attempting to moderate the influence of Islam in the region. The former communists in power in those countries have not been open to multiparty democracy and are unnerved by the threat of a religious revival, which could appeal to a large segment of the population and which represents the greatest potential unifying factor. In countries such as Uzbekistan, that threat is used to justify repressive policies – the logic is that slow social reform will prevent the spread of radical Islam. Tajikistan, however, provides almost no basis for such notions.
You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber.
Not a subscriber?
Subscribe today for access to:
Full access to the website and archive of over 26,000 articles
Exclusive monthly, members-only newsletter offering behind-the-scenes views from our contributing writers
A guest, two-month subscription to share with a friend
