Includes bibliographical references and index. Contents: Central Asia's catapult to independence. The new geopolitical order / Graham E. Fuller. Emerging political elites / Martha Brill Olcott. The potential for political instability and regional conflicts / Boris Z. Rumer -- Forging new relations with Russia and the Southern Tier. Tajikistan's relations with Iran and Afghanistan / Muriel Atkin. Azerbaijan's triangular relationship : the land between Russia, Turkey and Iran / Tadeusz Swietochowski. Islam, state-building and Uzbekistan foreign policy / Henry Hale -- South-west Asia looking north. Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia / Sabri Sayari. Iran, the Caucasus and Central Asia / Seyed Kazem Sajjadpour. Pakistan, Afghanistan and the Central Asian states / Tahir Amin -- Rethinking the role of the great powers. Russia and the emerging geopolitcal order in Central Asia / Mikhail Konarovsky. Central Asia : issues and challenges for United States policy / Nancy Lubin.