First published in 1994 and now available in paperback for the first time, this book examines the Islamic states of Central Asia in the periods before, during and after the Russian conquest. The authors detail the changes which occurred during the Russian colonialist era, the dramatic upheavals brought about by the 1917 Revolution and how communism tried to crush Muslim society. Also discussed is the plight of Muslims under Stalin's regime, the recent Islamic renaissance and its influence in politics during the breakup of the USSR. The book concludes with an evaluation of the position of the emergent Muslim Central Asian states shortly after their independence, and their likely future relationship with the new Russia.