A Study On Situation And Tendency Of Development Of Contemporary Central Asia

The development of Central Asian society is a complex process characterized by contact andcommunication,conflict and conflation between different ethnic groups and all sorts of cultures.Around 18th century the main culture and dominating social forces in Central Asian area were knownto be Turki-Islamic ones (Tadzhik was not included in Turki factors). After then, Russia graduallycontrolled Central Asia, and one kind of Russian cultures began to play a role in Central Asiancountries. This kind of influence had been becoming deeper and stronger till the disintegration offormer Soviet Union in 1991, and kept depositing and amalgamating even after the breakup. Clearly,the development of modern Central Asian countries is inevitably under the influence of Russia, whilethe major tasks facing contemporary Central Asian societies are to inherit the achievements made inRussian times, correct certain extreme abnormalities of that time, and pursue a self-fitteddevelopment way and mode of their own.With the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Central Asia once more came to the front ofinteraction between many cultures and social forces in the global stage. On the development road ofCentral Asian societies, surely there will be many cultures and social forces converged. The collisionof these factors will forcefully influence the political, economic and social directions of Central Asiaarea, and deduct an either visible or invisible, could-sustained-to-future communication or contest.What's more, with the high-tech (including advanced military equipment) changing with each passingday and the continuous impingement of economic globalization, military confrontation is possibleduring the peaceful communication of all sorts of cultures and social forces.Obviously, in Central Asia there exists not only amalgamated and assimilated indigenouscultures and social forces of ancient Central Asian nationalities, but also newcomers , such as westernculture,Islamic culture,Russian culture and Chinese culture . Hence, when the native cultures andforces communicated and merged with each other, there will also be communication and dialogue,contest and dispute between native cultures and alien cultures. Because of the difference andintercross of these influences, peaceful cultural spreading and communication will coexist withnon-peaceful contest and clash at the same time.So, the development of contemporary Central Asian societies will possibly have manysimilarities to its past history, but also could be a complex process of contest and clash between manyimportant cultures and social forces.The disintegration of the Soviet Union means the slowdown, even the end of central Asia'sRussianized process, meanwhile, it also opened doors for other cultures to develop and spread. Afterover 200 years influence of Russian culture, Central Asia began its return to Islamic and the world.The following characteristics can show how this phenomenon is appearing.First of all, the long-term influence and government of Russia added a new element in thecultural and social forces—Russian factor (especially in language and nationality). Central Asia thusentered an epoch of Turki-Islamic-Russian culture. In brief, the Turki made up the major nationalities(except Tadzhik) and Turkic language. The Arab brought Arabian characters (once spelling Turkic inArabian letters) and soul-deep religion. The Russian brought the Russian nationality and theirlanguage, as well as modern science & technology, and management mode which fitted the modernsociety even better. As the most important cultural and social factor, it still exists as an indivisibleinteger.Second, the disintegration of former Soviet Union offered an opportunity for the majornationalities in the Central Asian area to establish their own nation countries. And five principlenation countries were set up one by one, i.e.: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tadzhikistan, Kyrgyzstan andTurkmenistan. The establishment of the five independent countries will nurture more cultures andsocial forces in central Asia, and their communication and dialogue will increase gradually. However,to protect everyone's own benefit, contest and clash will be inevitable.Third, the thirst of Islamic nationalities in the Central Asian area to go back to the Islamic worldand Neo-Russia's wanting to abandon this area, paved way for the outside Islamic thoughts,especially the renaissance of Islam risen in 1970s. The result is that a new Crescent region, includingAfrica, the Arabian area and the Central Asian area, was formed. No doubt, Islamic culture is animportant element of modern central Asian cultures and social forces.Fourth, the disintegration of former Soviet Union offers an opportunity for the western countries topush forward their global strategy, and spread their thoughts and ideology world wide with fewerbarriers. For more than two hundred years, the cultural contact and communication between theCentral Asian area and other countries, especially the West, were almost ceased since Russiacontrolled this area around 18th century. Now the intervention of western culture and its socialinfluences, made central Asia's feature as a "distributing center" even prominent and the distributingcontent richer and more colorful.Fifth, the Chinese culture and its social influence never reached Central Asian area directly sinceRussia controlled this area, but the disintegration of former Soviet Union gives a chance for theChinese culture to go back again. However, since China now is adjusting and reforming its economicand political system, its influence to outside world is comparatively weak, which restrained itsfunction in central Asia. Nevertheless, one thing needs to pay particular attention is that the need andthirst of central Asia to learn about china and Chinese culture is still in the preliminary period of"novelty". This can be seen in the "Chinese craze" "geomantic omen craze" "martial arts craze", aswell as their gradual understanding of Confucius theory and the nation's development.To conclude, we are sure that the conflict between different cultures, i.e. indigenousTurki-Islamic-Russia element, and non-native Russian culture,the Islamic culture and the westernculture will last a long time in the Central Asian area. As an attributing center, Central Asia will beunder the influence of these major cultures and social forces for a long time. Also it will be a long andstep by step process for China to maneuver its influence. Due to geopolitical advantage, this influencewill be unavoidable. Simoutanieously, Central Asia society will develop quicker and stronger underthese pressures, finally improves its own competence in the modern world.