Note: This is the original draft of my book review of Uzbekistan. It was published in Demokratizatisya's Winter 2001 issue.

Uzbekistan: Transition to Authoritarianism on the Silk Road, by Neil Melvin. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers, 2000. 129 pp. $19.95 paperback, $33 clothbound.

The collapse of the Soviet Union spurred a wave of scholarship on Central Asia. In many cases, the emerging works were based on preconceptions of the region and a cursory examination of Russian-language sources. However, since the initial surge, Central Asian studies has shaken out, with more informed and thoughtful analyses displacing the earlier works. Neil Melvin of the University of Leeds draws on this new scholarship in Uzbekistan: Transition to Authoritarianism on the Silk Road. While not a book for specialists, Melvin's survey of Uzbekistan is a useful tool for anyone unfamiliar with this Central Asian republic.

The latest entry in Harwood Academic Publishers' "Postcommunist States and Nations" series follows the structure of earlier volumes on Belarus, Armenia and the Czech Republic. Melvin begins with a brief survey of Uzbek history, followed by chapters on domestic politics, economic reforms, and foreign relations. Uzbekistan covers the main events to date, including the crackdown following the February 1999 bombings in Tashkent.

I can only recommend this book with reservation. Some glaring omissions hurt the overall quality of the work. Importantly, Uzbekistan is primarily about Uzbek politics. Anyone who is expecting a discussion of the cultural changes that Uzbekistan has undergone in 150 years of Russian/Soviet rule will be sorely disappointed. Islamic identity in Uzbekistan is particularly poorly covered. Sufism, a mystical sect of Islam that flourished under the Soviets, is never mentioned. Also absent is Hadis Imam al-Bukhari, a native of the region and one of the foremost scholars in the history of Islam.

Moreover, Melvin uses several unsubstantiated generalities. To site one example, he claims that "the current system embodies the tradition of authoritarian rule that has dominated life in the region for centuries." However, the historical record shows that authoritarian institutions have changed dramatically over time in Uzbekistan. For example, in the early 19^th century, the region consisted of quasi-theocracies - a far cry from the militant secularism of Uzbek President Islam Karimov's regime. Melvin's overall point is further obscured by later comments on how Karimov is re-molding the Uzbek state and society.

Nagging editing errors further hinder this work. A section on 'further reading' that is promised in the preface somehow never made it into the final edition, indicating sloppy editing in the rush to press. Moreover, slight factual errors detract from the book's value, including a reference to Prime Minister (instead of President) Karimov and bombings in January (not February) 1999. Finally, there is inconsistent transliteration from Uzbek - the newspaper 'Voice of the People' is transliterated both as Xalq Suzi and Khalq Suzi.

However, the most important criticism I have of Uzbekistan is the lack of explanations. This work focuses on the what of recent events in Uzbekistan, but rarely delves into why - Why didn't an ethnic uprising occur? Why did the current system of authoritarianism develop? Why are Uzbek-U.S. relations so important to Tashkent? These are all questions provoked by Melvin's work, but there is scant attempt to answer them.

Despite these flaws, Uzbekistan can still be a valuable resource. To his credit, Melvin's assessment of the Karimov regime pulls few punches. Uzbekistan provides a concise account of what has happened up until now. His characterizations of Uzbekistan's political economy, internal politics, and foreign relations are, for the most part, dead on. While some important errors and omissions cloud the overall effectiveness of this work, Uzbekistan the book is still a valuable guide for anyone who is interested in Uzbekistan the country.