The Centrality of Central Asia

Abstract

From time to time Studies in History will carry a contribution challenging received wisdoms or turning long-standing issues on their head. Our first dialogue is initiated by Andre Gunder Frank who argues that the history of Central Asia is crucial to the understanding of developments in a very large part of the world. Four scholars of Central Asia then comment on this provocative thesis from an unabashed non-specialist, anchored in world-system theory. Daniel Balland comments as a geographer of the region, Thomas Barfield as an expert on China-Central Asia connexions. Mansura Haider specializes on medieval Central Asia and has a command over the Uzbeg and Persian language sources, and Lawrence Krader, known in India primarily as a Marxist theoretician, is an authority on political processes amongst Central Asian peoples. Frank's rejoinder sums up the debate—for the moment!