Azad Garibov, Rovshan İbrahimov. Geopolitical Competition in the Central Asia, the Dynamics of Relations with Azerbaijan. Baku, SAM, 2013.

The Central Asian region emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union and is formed of five independent states: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turk-menistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Origins of these states also date back to the USSR, when in 1920s and 1930s they were established as separate Soviet republics and their borders were drawn by Soviet Commissars of Nationalities according to the ethnic lines. In general, the countries of the region have a common history and culture, which contributes to the perception of a Central Asia as a single region. However, with regard to the political and economic processes, kinship among these five countries is at quite a low level to call the area as a full-fledged region.