by Sergey Abashin, Russian Academy of Sciences

This OSI-commissioned report provides an overview of the state of cultural affairs in Central Asian societies after the states in the region achieved independence and describes current tendencies defining long-term, local cultural processes and transcultural influences. Questions include:

• How is the Soviet experience of "cultural construction” used and transformed in the modern nation-states of Central Asia?
• What restrictions on cultural production are imposed by the political situation and economic possibilities of these countries?
• How do the processes of isolationism and globalization interact?
• What changes are being wrought by the islamisation of these societies?
• What is the future potential of secular, European-style culture?
• Who are the main players in the region’s cultural space?

A number of general recommendations for the work of international organizations in the cultural sphere of Central Asia are also presented.

Download the report (in English and Russian) here: http://www.soros.org/initiatives/arts/focus/caucasus/articles_publications/publications/abashin_20090514