What follows is one part of a cross-blog initiative, which takes the role of Islam in Central Asia and the Caucasus as its central theme:

Uzbekistan is historically part of what Marshall G. S. Hodgson termed “the Islamicate”, or what lay Muslims would call “Dar al-Islam” (Abode of Peace). Within the Dar al-Islam, Uzbekistan falls […]

On Tuesday, May 9, a conference was held at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace entitled “One Year After Andijon: What’s Next For Uzbekistan and the U.S.” The highlight and most reported event of the conference was the outlining of new legislation for sanctions against Uzbekistan presented by Senator John McCain and Representative […]

With the first anniversary of events in Andijon drawing closer, here is a list with events that will take place during the next couple of days.
May 9, 2006 “One Year After Andijon: What’s Next For Uzbekistan and the U.S.”
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington
featuring presentations by:
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)
Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) (invited)
Amb. […]

Surkhandarya is one of the most ancient cultural centers of Uzbekistan with original history and course of evolution. Having been among the high developed regions of Asia, a heart of antique Greco-Bactria and the Kushan empire, located on a trade crossroad, today Surkhandarya is a successor of the ancient traditions, a keeper of unique […]

On 27-28 April the SCO culture ministers met for the third time in Tashkent. This from Uzreport:
“At the end of the meeting, the ministers approved a plan for multilateral cultural cooperation for 2007/08, a work plan of the expert working group on issues of cultural interaction within the framework of the SCO for 2006-2007, […]