Abstract

This chapter introduces the edited volume and its 28 chapters. It discusses public perceptions of Central Asia which are often marked by prejudice, and briefly familiarizes readers with this region by providing some historical insights and by outlining key economic, political, and societal trends. The chapter moreover gives a short overview of the current scholarship and points out research gaps that the volume wishes to fill. It then depicts the structure of the book, which is based on an introductory section, part I on the political systems of the five Central Asian states, part II on key themes such as democratization, corruption, and terrorism, part III on the roles of external actors and their bilateral relations with the five countries, part IV on regional cooperation in key policy fields, and lastly an outlook into the future. Finally, succinct overviews of the 28 chapters are provided.