The emergence of the independent Republic of Tajikistan (Jumhurii Tojikiston) was one of the most painful state building attempts in post-Soviet history. Since 1990, this country has experienced a rise in political activism, freedom of speech, sharp political debates, collapse of state institutions, civic disorder, civil war, an internationally led peace process, return of exiled opposition and their militias, and redistribution of power. As of 2009, Tajikistan continues its gradual shift from the fragile, postwar recovery period towards a more stable, peaceful, conventional and transparent political order and an era of steady economic development. The second edition of the Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan examines this country through a chronology, an introductory essay, a bibliography, and over 600 cross-referenced dictionary entries on important persons, places, events, and institutions, as well as significant political, economic, social, and cultural aspects. It is an extremely useful aid in understanding the current situation in Tajikistan.

Author Biography

Kamoludin Abdullaev is an independent historian from Dushanbe, Tajikistan. From 2001 to 2009, as a visiting professor, Dr. Abdullaev regularly taught modern Central Asian subjects from multidisciplinary perspectives at Yale University, Allegheny College, and the Ohio State University. He has written and edited eight books in English and Russian. In addition, he published over 50 articles in English, Russian, Tajik, and translated into French, and Japanese. Shahram Akbarzadeh is deputy director of the National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies at the University of Melbourne, Australia. His research interests include the politics of Islam in the Middle East and Australia, U.S. policy towards the Middle East, and Central Asian politics.