Introduction -- "Great games" and "small games" : the strategies and outcomes of external actors -- Russia in Central Asia : old patterns, new challenges -- China : the newcomer that made a difference -- The United States : the too distant, but unavoidable partner -- The European Union : soft power or realpolitik? -- Middle Eastern and Gulf countries seeking a role in Central Asia -- Central Asia looking east : the search for Asian dynamism -- The regional market : economic weaknesses and political blockades -- Facing globalization : strengths and weaknesses of Central Asia's economies -- The weight of the soil : the agriculture sector -- Hydrocarbons : at the core of Central Asia's international strategies -- Mineral wealth : export strategies versus state sovereignty -- A driver of development : the electricity sector -- Overcoming landlockedness : the transport challenge -- A structurally weakened industrial base -- The future of the services sector -- Conclusion -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the authors.