Central Asia, a region rich in cultural diversity and historical significance, has often been underrepresented in academic literature. However, the book Identity, History and Transnationality in Central Asia by Dagikhudo Dagiev and Carole Faucher delves deeply into the complicated and diverse identities of Central Asians. From the outset, the book seeks to dismantle the monolithic notions of Central Asian identities. The introduction provides a brief historical overview that forms the basis for the detailed examination that follows. The authors discuss the most important historical epochs that have shaped Central Asia—the pre-Soviet, Soviet, and post-Soviet periods. The intricate web of historical events, from the Great Game to Soviet collectivisation, is dissected to show how these eras have collectively shaped the region's identities today.

A unique angle the book offers is its focus on transnationality—how Central Asians navigate between local and global identities. Faucher's background in transnational studies helps illuminate this multi-layered experience. Memory, both collective and individual, plays an important role in this book. The authors argue that understanding Central Asian identities requires an understanding of how the past is remembered and reinterpreted. By combining history, sociology, and political science, the authors offer a holistic view of Central Asian identities. This interdisciplinary approach helps to close gaps that a single discipline is often unable to fill.

Identity, History and Transnationality in Central Asia is an important contribution to Central Asian studies. Dagikhudo Dagiev and Carole Faucher offer a nuanced, comprehensive, and insightful exploration of a region that is often overlooked in academic discourse. For anyone interested in the complexities of identity in an ever-globalising world, this book is a must-read.

Szabolcs Veres is a reseacher at the Eurasia Center