Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan: 73 Second Edition

Abdullaev (Politics of Compromise) and Akbarzadeh (U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East) explore the origin and culture of Tajikistan by assembling profiles of the countries, regions, movements, politics, and figures impacting the nation’s genesis and progression toward autonomy. Alphabetized entries run from several lines to several paragraphs long and make frequent cross-references, often using Tajiki terms that are elsewhere defined. Opening the book is a detailed 2000-year chronology and a 40-page survey of the country’s land, people, religions, and political tensions. ― Library Journal

The second edition (1st, CH, Jun’02, 39-5546) of this handy reference work furnishes updated entries and new articles on places and subjects. As Abdullaev (independent scholar) and Akbarzadeh (Univ. of Melbourne, Australia) point out, Tajikistan ‘has [experienced] one of the most painful state-building attempts in post-Soviet history.’ The authors encourage Western readers to consider the newly independent nations individually rather than as a conglomerate lumped together under rubrics such as ‘war on terror’ or ‘global oil and gas politics.’ They furnish a wealth of detail to introduce this fascinating country, including a chronology (2000 BCE to 2009) with an introduction to the land, geography, people, and historical epochs. Most information focuses on the last two decades. Alphabetical entries cover political leaders, warriors, dynasties, religions, religious leaders, politicians, cultural figures, the arts, social and economic conditions, commodities, bordering countries, and more. Particularly noteworthy are brief topical essays covering macroeconomic, microeconomic, social, political, and historical issues. Appendixes address macroeconomic indicators, 1995-2008; population and labor force, 1990-2008; national accounts, 1991-2007; national ethnic population, 1926-2000; and governments, 1991-2009. An extensive bibliography includes statistics, travel and description, culture, economy, history, politics, science and technology, religion, neighbors, and Internet resources. Recommended. ― CHOICE

Part of the Scarecrow Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania and the Middle East series, this reference work covers one of the lesser-known ‘stans,’ a landlocked nation bordering Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and China. Although Tajikistan has experienced nation-building problems similar to those of other Central Asian republics that became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, it still has a distinct culture, history, and language. The work features A–Z entries covering important individuals, places, events, and ethnic groups along with other political, social, and cultural material. An introductory essay provides useful background information; a chronology, bibliography, and some appendixes supplement the reference value of the work. This second edition updates and revises much content since the publication of the 2002 volume. But the authors also felt that a newer edition might better educate readers to understand that ‘Central Asia is not a conglomeration of homogenous ‘stans’ that should be lumped together.’ Libraries that don’t own the earlier edition might consider obtaining this well-researched work. ― Booklist

This work is recommended for all library country study collections. ― American Reference Books Annual, May-August 2010