JSPES, Vol. 31, No. 4 (Winter 2006 )
pp. 375 - 397

The Islamic Threat to Eastern Central Asia

Stephen R. Bowers

Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia

Bakhodir Musayev

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Steven Alan Samson

Liberty University
Lynhburg, Virgina

Utilizing the works of Uzbek scholars and journalists, the authors offer an analysis of the emergence of a culture of violence in post-Soviet Central Asia. This violence has been expressed in the form of terrorist strikes against security personnel as well as suicide attacks on civilian targets. What began as a cultural reawakening throughout Central Asia is evolving into a jihadist campaign to undermine secular authority. Thus, regional violence has been steadily increasing over the past five years.