Publication

This report considers the legacy of nation-building and the drawing of state borders in Central Asia. It argues that Central Asian state boundaries were first established in the 1920s and 1930s by Russia, and that they did not correspond well with economic, social and cultural realities. Following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, these issues fueled political tensions that were in large measure resolved peacefully. Notwithstanding, the author calls for a continued focus on cooperation and compromise to resolve outstanding disputes.