Islamic Radicalization in Central Asia

Central Asian political developments since 1989 have pushed both state and non-state actors in different directions over the issue of radical Islam. This paper reviews those developments and the responses from non-state actors to determine, ultimately, if Central Asian republics will become more susceptible to radical Islam and terrorism in the coming years. The five Central Asian States (Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) and the Fergana Valley all show potential for a rise of radical influence, each for different reasons. The state actors have been reviewed in terms of social, economic and security stability while the non-state actors have been reviewed in terms of their stated goals and their demonstrated means of accomplishing them. Outside influence has also been considered, most notably from the United States, Russia, China, Pakistan and Afghanistan