The Dust of Empire: The Race for Mastery in The Asian Heartland [Paperback]

Karl E. Meyer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1586482416 | ISBN-13: 978-1586482411 | Publication Date: July 6, 2004

When Charles de Gaulle learned that France's former colonies in Africa had chosen independence, the great general shrugged dismissively, "They are the dust of empire." But as Americans have learned, particles of dust from remote and seemingly medieval countries can, at great human and material cost, jam the gears of a superpower.

In The Dust of Empire, Karl E. Meyer examines the present and past of the Asian heartland in a book that blends scholarship with reportage, providing fascinating detail about regions and peoples now of urgent concern to America: the five Central Asian republics, the Caspian and the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and long-dominant Russia. He provides the context for America's war on terrorism, for Washington's search for friends and allies in an Islamic world rife with extremism, and for the new politics of pipelines and human rights in an area richer in the former than the latter. He offers a rich and complicated tapestry of a region where empires have so often come to grief—a cautionary tale.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Meyer, editor of World Policy Journal and a longtime member of the New York Times editorial board, draws on his extensive knowledge to trace the histories of several south, central and west Asian countries that are now of critical importance to the U.S. At a time when powerless nations can have profound impact on international affairs, his work serves as a powerful introduction to this poorly understood region-valued for its oil and location yet feared for its extremism-and simultaneously offers instructive lessons to American policy makers as the U.S. forges relationships with these states. Meyer combines scholarly expertise with journalistic detail in a rich account relaying formative events through extensive research and poignant personal anecdotes. Skillfully weaving in his perceptive reflections on American imperialism, Meyer strongly argues, "Washington is the seat of an empire, if of a special kind," which must cultivate substantive relationships rather than shortsighted alliances if it hopes to win the war on terror. But Meyer's treatment of the countries under discussion is inconsistent. In some cases, he offers a succinct summary of relevant political events, whereas other histories are more arbitrary and less structured. A work of such scope also has little room for nuances. Together, these characteristics may leave readers with superficial understanding. However, Meyer intends to "sharpen" the reader's appetite, and interested readers will take the book for what it is-a compelling yet cursory introduction to a fascinating region-and continue to build a deeper understanding of the region.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Since the late nineteenth century, geopolitical strategists have emphasized the value of controlling the "world island" of Eurasia; the key to mastery of that island is control, directly or indirectly, of the Central Asian heartland that stretches from the Causasus to the Chinese border. Meyer, the editor of World Policy Journal, traces the various struggles by outside powers to control this vital region, illuminating the culture and history of the various peoples that have invaded, conquered, and settled in these diverse lands. His analysis of the efforts of Russia first to resist the onslaught of central Asian nomads and then to subdue and pacify them is both astute and essential to understanding the complex relationships that have followed the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The description of the frustrations and humiliations that sowed the seeds of the Islamic revolution in Iran should be essential reading for those who continue to find Iranian hostility to outsiders baffling. A timely analysis of an area likely to be the focus of American concerns for a long time. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: PublicAffairs (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1586482416
• ISBN-13: 978-1586482411
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #955,721 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and well-written, June 23, 2004

By 

M. A Michaud "michael_michaud" (Dulles, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dust of Empire: The Race for Mastery in the Asian Heartland (Hardcover)

In this short, readable book (in part an update of Tournament of Shadows), Meyer first provides some background on imperial competition among the British, the Russians, and the Americans in Southwest and Central Asia. Subsequent chapters describe recent history in Iran, Afghanistan, the Caucasus, and the Central Asian republics that once were part of the Soviet Union. Meyer's writing is clear, lively, and well-informed; events are placed in context, and are illuminated with sharply observed detail. While the discussion of issues is relatively light, this is an eye-opening introduction for those not already knowledgeable about the region.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well Written But Light, October 8, 2006

By 

R. J Szasz "Rod Szasz" (Tokyo, Japan Japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Dust of Empire: The Race for Mastery in The Asian Heartland (Paperback)

Meyer did history a service when he reopened the classic account of the struggle for central asia through the ages in his rather more famous "Tournament of Shadows." This, more slender, volume is written in less grandiose style, but still is a call for the greater world (and especially Americans) to understand the region as a whole in its historical, cultural and geopolitical context.

The style is more of a Cook's tour with chapters dedicated to each of the states in Central Asia.

I found however that Meyer offers enough to tease and entice on each country, but not quite enough to satify... just when the going got more in-depth and intriguing, it was time to move to another country. For those liking imperial 19th Century "Great Game" narratives, there is precious little in this volume. History is only a prop to put the country into its current context of understanding in the realm of power politics -- which it should be said, Meyer utlises both classical power politics and liberal theories in his explaination of how the world relates to central asia.

The one good thing I would add is this: instead of the current fashion of American historians and currrent events commentators concentrating on American interpretations -- American Oil, beltway politics, and the endless citing of each Presidential Administration's response to the politics of the region -- there is a general eagle-eye view that keeps the general interests and threats of all major actors in mind. He does this while reminding us of the human cost in terms of lives and lost rights, most often taken by states from their own people. As such morality looms large in his descriptions, though not necessarily proscriptions for the region.

For those who are interested in real analysis of world affairs and sick of the usual talking head suspects on the left or right, then this is a very intelligent, considered, and interesting overview.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Bit Unfocused but Fascinating Nonetheless, October 13, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Dust of Empire: The Race for Mastery in the Asian Heartland (Hardcover)

Meyer's thesis seems to be that US dominance of sovereign countries is a bad thing. Using historical examples of American, British, and Russian imperialism, he makes this point well. But he never really explains why the Central Asian republics are at special risk for this kind of imperialism. The book seems on one hand to be about the risks of imperialism in general, and on the other hand a summary of recent Central Asian history.

I would have preferred two separate books--one on the dangers of imperialism, and one on the history and future of Central Asia. (The book may have been a bit rushed and its thesis may have been redirected by recent events) But nonetheless, the chapters are on their own all very interesting, and Meyer has a lot of insight about the situation.

But despite the structural flaws, I recommend this book highly to anyone interested in foreign policy or in recent Middle Eastern/Central Asian history.