Counterterrorism policies in Central Asia / Mariya Y. Omelicheva.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction. -- Central Asia combating terrorism: why are states' responses converging? -- Dimensions of counterterrorism policy -- Alternative explanations of states' counterterrorism policies -- Overview of the book -- A reference group perspective on state behavior. -- Introducing reference group therapy -- Types of social influence and reference groups -- Factors affecting the choice of reference groups -- Communicating groups' norms, perspectives, and knowledge; transmitting feedback from the reference groups -- Framework of empirical analysis -- Establishing states' reference groups -- Identifying reference groups' perspectives on terrorism and counterterrorism policies -- Assessing the impact of reference groups on states' responses to terrorism -- Kyrgyzstan's counterterrorism policy. -- Kyrgyzstan's reference groups -- Kyrgyzstan after independence: troubles of the newly independent state -- States that Kyrgyzstan relied on -- Kyrgyzstan's partnership with Russia: pragmatic choice or value-based community? -- Russia as Kyrgyzstan's normative reference group -- Kyrgyzstan and its neighbors: induced cooperation -- Kyrgyzstan and the West: drifting apart -- Counterterrorism policies of Kyrgyzstan's reference groups -- Counterterrorism in the Russian Federation -- Counterterrorism policies of Kyrgyzstan's neighbors -- US counterterrorism policy -- Kyrgyzstan's counterterrorism responses: examining the impact of reference groups -- Kyrgyzstan's views on terrorism -- Institutional and legislative frameworks for combating terrorism in the Kyrgyz Republic -- Human rights in the context of counterterrorism in Kyrgyzstan -- Kazakhstan's counterterrorism policy. -- Kazakhstan's reference groups -- Kazakhstan's national interests -- Social groups assisting Kazakhstan in achieving its national goals -- Russia as Kazakhstan's reference group -- United States as Kazakhstan's reference group -- The influence of China and other Central Asian states on Kazakhstan -- Kazakhstan's counterterrorism responses: assessing the influence of its reference groups -- How assessment of terrorist threat has changed from "moderate" to "real" -- Counterterrorism measures: expanding its scope -- Human rights and counterterrorism" adjustments in "style" -- Conclusion.

During the last two decades, Central Asian states have witnessed an intense revival of Islamic faith. Along with its moderate and traditional forms, radical and militant Islam has infiltrated communities of Muslims in Central Asia. Alarmed by the border incursions, sporadic terrorist violence and religious anti-governmental campaigns, the leadership of all Central Asian states adopted extensive measures against radical Islam and intensified counterterrorism policies. This book examines the dangerous tendency of counterterrorism policies of the Central Asian states to grow more alike amid propensities for divergence and attributes this trend to the impact of the social context in which these states operate. It underscores the importance of international setting that shapes governments{u2019} perceptions of terrorism and their counterterrorism policies. Applying a comprehensive theoretical framework, which integrates different mechanisms of international influences on state behaviour, the author explains the Central Asian states{u2019} perceptions of terrorist threat and their counterterrorism responses. The book analyses the counterterrorism policies of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the two Central Asian states that have been least affected by terrorist violence and Islamism but chose to combat those threats vigorously. Using materials derived from a wide range of sources, including legal documents, officials{u2019} memoirs and fieldwork, this research will contribute to studies in Asian politics and national security, and international relations.