John Kerry’s whirlwind tour of the five “Stans” in October 2015 put Central Asia again on the map of U.S. policymakers. With its gas and oil wealth, repressive governments, bizarre personality cults and overwhelmingly Muslim population, this region remains poorly understood by most Americans, even though its significance and prominence in their lives will only increase. Eren Tasar will offer an accessible summary of key themes in the region’s history, including religion, politics, natural resources and the influence of Russia and China.

This lecture is part of the Humanities in Action series presented by the Program in Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For more information, please visit the event page.