"To say that this is an encyclopedia of Islam in Russia would be to slight the book's rich analysis. But to avoid that description would be to understate how thoroughly Hunter and her colleagues cover every aspect of the subject...."--Foreign Affairs
"This is a splendid book. Dr. Hunter makes a real contribution with this painstaking analysis of Islam in Russia. She clearly notes not only the fragmented nature of Russian Islam, but also demonstrates Islam’s role in Russian domestic politics and foreign policy. I expect that this will be a major reference work for many years to come."--Robert O. Freedman, Former President, Baltimore Hebrew University
This broad study traces the shared history of Russia and Islam in expanding compass--from the Tatar civilization within the Russian heartland, to the territories of the Caucasus and Central Asia brought under Imperial Russian and then Soviet rule, to the larger geopolitical and security context of contemporary Russia on the civilizational divide. The study's distinctive analytical drive stresses political and geopolitical relationships over time and into the very complicated present. Rich with insight, the book is also an incomparable source of factual information about Russia's Muslim populations, religious institutions, political organizations, and ideological movements.
Shireen T. Hunter is director of the CSIS Islam Program. Previously, she has held positions with the Centre for European Policy Studies (Brussels), the Brookings Institution, and the Harvard Center for International Affairs.
Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1800 K Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006 | Tel: 202-887-0200 | Fax: 202-775-3199
