The book is the work of French historian, sociologist, political scientist and research professor Marlène Laruelle, Director of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University, and Sébastien Peyrouse, Professor of International Affairs at the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University, whose research focuses on Eurasianism, the political systems of Central Asia, Islam and religious minorities, and the geopolitical situation of Central Asia.

Although Central Asia often disappears from the news of the globalised media, the region has never completely fallen out of the sphere of interest of the United States, Russia or China. It is also often seen as India's northern sphere of influence. Laruelle and Peyrouse's book attempts to do justice to this particular region and to inform the reader about the role of Central Asia in the globalised world and the attitude of the major external powers towards Central Asia, while also taking into account the interests of the Central Asian states.

A special feature of the book by the researchers from George Washington University is that it also deals with the challenges of globalisation for the countries of Central Asia. The arguments and findings of the book analyse Central Asia in far greater detail than the arena of the „Great Game” between Russia and the United States in the 19th century. In addition to the big picture, the authors also outline the interests of countries that are increasingly interested in the region. These include, for example, the European Union, India, Pakistan, Iran and the Arab states of the Middle East.

The groundbreaking study Globalising Central Asia Geopolitics And The Challenges Of Economic Development provides an excellent introduction for anyone seeking answers to the question of Central Asia's place in the globalised world. The book is an excellent guide to the current international economic and political processes in Central Asia.

Szabolcs Veres is a researcher at the Eurasia Center