Islamic Leadership and the State in Eurasia

“In this well-documented and up-to-date study, Galina Yemelianova traces the complex relationship between Islamic and political authorities in the Muslim-populated parts of Eurasia and deftly illustrates the resilience of Islam against external domination and internal challenges. This book will be a welcome addition to many university courses on Islam and Russian and Eurasian history and also of interest to a wider general readership.”— Dr Bhavna Dave, SOAS University of London, UK. “Central Asia and the Caucasus do not loom large in the imagination of most in the West, and yet, this region was the zone of the Silk Road, the trading route that tied together the periphery of Eurasia. It was also the zone of greatest contact between Christianity and Islam. Not only did Islam reach into the area when great empires existed there, but it has persisted down to the present when these empires have devolved into nations or ethnic regions. The varying adaptations of Islam that have emerged offer a wide range of case studies. Dr. Yemelianova has a deep and extensive grasp of this region, both from scholarly sources and from field work across the region. As an author of numerous articles and books on Islam and Central Asia, her fluency in both Russian and Arabic enable her to forge a unique perspective on the changes that Islam has undergone in this vast region.” — John Colarusso, McMaster University, Canada This book is one of the most ambitious and comprehensive scholarly works about Islam in post-Soviet Eurasia to date. The main argument is that the historical evolution of this region has shaped the nature and forms of Islamic leadership and its relationship with the state and Muslim grassroots communities and thus gave it a unique ‘Eurasian’ character. To demonstrate this, the book covers immense ground both temporally and geographically. It analyses the development of Islam in general, and the relationship between the state, Islamic leaders, and Muslim communities in particular beginning from the birth of Prophet Muhammad in c. 571 CE and the early arrival of Islam to the region, continuing until the present time — Sofie Bedford, IRES Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University, Caucasus Survey. Yemelianova (Univ. of London, England) offers a rich, detailed overview of the relationship between Islamic religious authorities and state/political power in the various nations that were part of the former Soviet Union. The work is organized into three main parts. The first deals with the role and status of Islam in the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, and Eastern Europe from the birth of Islam until the end of czarism. Part II covers Islam and Islamic leadership under Soviet rule. The final section treats Islam in the post-Soviet environment. To support her narrative, Yemelianova draws on a wealth of scholarly sources in both English and Russian. The book has a glossary for the numerous Islamic and Russian terms that might not be familiar to many readers. Finally, an extensive list of endnotes and a lengthy bibliography make this volume an excellent starting point for scholars wishing to explore these topics further. The main drawback is that the work is a bit too dense for nonspecialists. Libraries supporting extensive research in Russian/Eurasian studies or Islamic studies will want to acquire this volume —D. Durant, East Carolina University. Despite the complexity of the subject matter and geography, Yemelianova skilfully structures the book in a logical manner, ensuring that the reader does not become dis-oriented across centuries and regions. The book serves as a valuable introductory resource for individuals looking to delve into research on Islamic leadership in Eurasia or for those with a general interest in the region. —Revolutionary Russia Galina M. Yemelianova’s Islamic Leadership and the State in Eurasia is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand more fully the intersection of religion and statehood in Eurasia. This comprehensive and insightful book significantly broadens our understanding of Islamic leadership in the region. This book’s multifaceted analysis emphasising Islamic studies and Eurasian politics makes it a valuable resource for scholars, students and any interested readers. - Europe-Asia Studies