Book Review: Ajay Patnaik, Central Asia: Geopolitics, Security and Stability
| Author | Phool Badan |
| Published date | 01 July 2016 |
| Date | 01 July 2016 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0020881718763630 |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Book Reviews
Ajay Patnaik, Central Asia: Geopolitics, Security and Stability (New Delhi:
Routledge, 2016), 237 pp., `850.
The present volume Central Asia: Geopolitics, Security and Stability by Ajay
Patnaik provides another/different dimension to the understanding about the geo-
politics of Central Asia. The main argument of the book is that the security in the
region would be sustainable only if there is intra-regional cooperation. Even through
serious interstate cooperation between the Central Asian (CA) state is missing, the
region is still not having conflict and wars. This is one of the reasons that the CA
states enjoy greater strategic autonomy in their dealing with external powers, espe-
cially the USA and Russia. The action of other regional powers like China, Iran and
Turkey are discussed in detail along with India’s ‘Silk Road’ strategy.
The author challenges the position of western scholars that Russia’s growing
influence in CA is driven by neo-imperialistic ambition and argues that the CA
leaders perceive Russia’s presence as the pre-eminent power in the region as use-
ful. Author presents Russia, not as a hegemon but as a geopolitical balancer, with
its hard and soft power in Eurasia against external security threats and other non-
military/non-traditional challenges.
The book is divided into eight chapters. The first chapter titled as ‘Geopolitics:
Concept and Reality analyse’ the theoretical concept of ancient and contemporary
geopolitical discourses. The importance of the region is discussed in detail through
the great game between the super powers and the strategic moves of the USA and
Russia. Author argues that ‘CA is not really a theatre of Great Game’ (p. 28). He
discusses factors which recede the spectre of the New Great Game. The main
reason is the involvement of other major power than Russia and the US. The rise
of China and India and also the re-emergence of Russia. CA states have better
opportunity of diversifying their political, economic and security relation.
The second chapter, ‘Security Concerns of Central Asian States’, explains the
problems and threats in the region after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
There were number of riots and violent conflicts in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The territorial disputes, presence of large ethnic minorities and the interethnic
conflicts, the civil war within the states were the major challenges for the CA
states. The CA states are facing the threat of religious extremism and terrorism.
The ties between the terrorism and drugs are strong in the border region of CA
states and Afghanistan. The borders between the states are disputed which create
International Studies
53(3–4) 321–333
2018 Jawaharlal Nehru University
SAGE Publications
sagepub.in/home.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0020881718763630
http://journals.sagepub.com/home/isq
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