Malashenko, Alexei. "Islam in Central Asia." In  Central Asian Security: The New International Context, edited by Roy Allison and Lena Jonson, 49-68. London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2001.

According to Malashenko on page 49: "The purpose of this chapter is to discuss Islam as a factor both for consolidating and for dividing the Central Asian states."  Malashenko argues that Islam as a religious heritage did not consolidate the contemporary Central Asian states, but the threat of radical Islam did to some extent with regard to security. Malashenko also discusses the "Islamic factor" with regard to Central Asian foreign relations with Russian and the wider Muslim world.  Finally, he concludes that Islam has an influence, but is not a principle factor in Central Asian foreign relations.

Contents: Islam in Central Asian Society; Radical Islam and the Central Asian States; The 'Islamic Factor' and the Role of Russia; Central Asia and the Wider Muslim World; Prospects for the Future; Notes.  Descriptors: 2000s, chapter, foreign relations, M, political science, post-Soviet.

Robins, Philip. "Religion and Language.'" In "The Middle East and Central Asia." In The New States of Central Asia and their Neighbours, edited by Peter Ferdinand, 61-63. New York: Council on Foreign Relations Press, 1994. 

The relevant pages of this three page section briefly discuss Central Asia's contemporary relationship with the Middle East with regard to Islam.  While Muslims live in both regions, Robins notes differences between the two regions and argues that it is wrong to assume that Central Asia will follow the political path of the Middle East.

Descriptors: 1990s, chapter, foreign relations, political science, post-Soviet, R, section.