The History of the Civil War in Tajikistan (Central Asian Studies)

In the 10th century, the Turks separated the Tajiks, a Central Asian community, from their Iranian kinfolk. The Tajiks adopted the Hanafi faith and, alongside ethnicity, made it a pillar of their identity. Between 1920 and 1990, the Soviets tried to alter the Tajiks' identity. While they could affect the Tajiks' social status substantially (cf. Afghanistan), they failed in changing the Tajiks' ideology. Instead, they became involved in a conflict that pitted Soviet Tajiks against radical Muslim Tajiks, the latter intentionally misidentified as Wahhabis by the Soviets. The question was about the viability of enforcing the secular Soviet constitution versus the Islamic Shari'a. Inability to resolve the dispute led to civil war (1992). The volume traces the conflict from its roots in Bukhara to the establishment of an independent secular Tajik state (1997). In the 10th century, the Turks separated the Tajiks, a Central Asian community, from their Iranian kinfolk. The Tajiks adopted the Hanafi faith and, alongside ethnicity, made it a pillar of their identity. Between 1920 and 1990, the Soviets tried to alter the Tajiks’ identity. While they could affect the Tajiks’ social status substantially (cf. Afghanistan), they failed in changing the Tajiks’ ideology. Instead, they became involved in a conflict that pitted Soviet Tajiks against radical Muslim Tajiks, the latter intentionally misidentified as __Wahhabis__ by the Soviets. The question was about the viability of enforcing the secular Soviet constitution versus the Islamic __Shari’a__. Inability to resolve the dispute led to civil war (1992). The volume traces the conflict from its roots in Bukhara to the establishment of an independent secular Tajik state (1997). Présentation de l'éditeur : "The book is about the Tajiks, a Muslim community in Central Asia, their Sovietization, and their bloody civil war. The conflict was about the type of constitution that Tajikistan should adopt: Communist, secular, or based on the Islamic Shari'a. The parliamentary discussions aimed at preventing a war, and the armed struggle that ensued are both discussed in detail. Events are seen through the eyes of Safarali Kenjaev, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan at the time. The volume also includes the author's impressions and interviews gathered during his year-long residence (1993) in war-torn Tajikistan as IREX's man in Dushanbe." "The book is about the Tajiks, a Muslim community in Central Asia, their Sovietization, and their bloody civil war. The conflict was about the type of constitution that Tajikistan should adopt: Communist, secular, or based on the Islamic Shari'a. The parliamentary discussions aimed at preventing a war, and the armed struggle that ensued are both discussed in detail. Events are seen through the eyes of Safarali Kenjaev, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of Tajikistan at the time. The volume also includes the author's impressions and interviews gathered during his year-long residence (1993) in war-torn Tajikistan as IREX's man in Dushanbe."-- Provided by publisher In Tajikistan, The Soviets Used Inherent Tajik Ideological, Regional, And Ethnic Conflicts To Move Their Affairs Forward. In 1992, After Enduring Soviet Imposition For Seventy Years, The Tajiks Reversed The Process And Toppled The Soviet Power Structure In Tajikistan. The Volume Traces The Development Of The Conflict Using Primary Tajik Sources. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents CHAPTER 1 The War Year CHAPTER 2 The Emirate of Bukhara CHAPTER 3 The Sovietization of Tajikistan CHAPTER 4 End of an Era CHAPTER 5 The Government of National Reconciliation CHAPTER 6 Reinventing the Wheel CHAPTER 7 The Path to Recovery Appendix Glossary List of Abbreviations Bibliography Index