Difference between revisions of "Tajikistan" - New World Encyclopedia
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− | [[ | + | {{Claimed}} |
− | [[ | + | {{Infobox Country or territory |
+ | |native_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;"> '''{{unicode|Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон}}''' <br/>'''Jumhurii Tojikiston'''</span> | ||
+ | |conventional_long_name = <span style="line-height:1.33em;">Republic of Tajikistan</span> | ||
+ | |common_name = Tajikistan | ||
+ | |image_flag = Flag of Tajikistan.svg | ||
+ | |image_coat = Tajikistan coa.png | ||
+ | |symbol_type = Coat of Arms | ||
+ | |image_map = LocationTajikistan.svg | ||
+ | |national_motto = none | ||
+ | |national_anthem = ''[[Surudi Milli]]'' | ||
+ | |official_languages = [[Persian language|Persian]] ([[Tajik language|Tajik]] ([[Tajiki Persian]]) is the official dialect) | ||
+ | |capital = [[Image:Coat of Arms of Dushanbe.png|22px]] [[Dushanbe]] | ||
+ | |latd=38 |latm=33 |latNS=N |longd=68 |longm=48 |longEW=E | ||
+ | |largest_city = [[Image:Coat of Arms of Dushanbe.png|22px]] [[Dushanbe]] | ||
+ | |government_type = [[Unitary state|Unitary republic]] | ||
+ | |leader_title1 = [[List of Presidents of Tajikistan|President]] | ||
+ | |leader_title2 = [[List of Prime Ministers of Tajikistan|Prime Minister]] | ||
+ | |leader_name1 = [[Emomali Rahmonov]] | ||
+ | |leader_name2 = [[Okil Okilov]] | ||
+ | |area_rank = 95th | ||
+ | |area_magnitude = 1 E11 | ||
+ | |area = 143,100 | ||
+ | |areami² = 55,251 | ||
+ | |percent_water = 0.3 | ||
+ | |population_estimate = 7,320,000<sup>1</sup> | ||
+ | |population_estimate_rank = 100th<sup>1</sup> | ||
+ | |population_estimate_year = July 2006 | ||
+ | |population_census = 6,127,000 | ||
+ | |population_census_year = 2000 | ||
+ | |population_density = 45 | ||
+ | |population_densitymi² = 117 | ||
+ | |population_density_rank = 151st | ||
+ | |GDP_PPP = $8.802 billion <!--IMF—> | ||
+ | |GDP_PPP_rank = 139th | ||
+ | |GDP_PPP_year = 2005 | ||
+ | |GDP_PPP_per_capita = $1,388 | ||
+ | |GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 159th | ||
+ | |sovereignty_type = [[Collapse of the Soviet Union|Independence]] | ||
+ | |established_event1 = Declared | ||
+ | |established_event2 = Completed | ||
+ | |established_event3 = Establishment of the [[Samanid|Samanid Empire]] | ||
+ | |established_date1 = [[September 9]] [[1991]] | ||
+ | |established_date2 = [[December 25]] [[1991]] | ||
+ | |established_date3 = 875 C.E. | ||
+ | |HDI_year = 2004 | ||
+ | |HDI = {{steady}}0.652 | ||
+ | |HDI_rank = 122nd | ||
+ | |HDI_category = <font color="#ffcc00">medium</font> | ||
+ | |currency = [[Somoni]] | ||
+ | |currency_code = TJS | ||
+ | |country_code = | ||
+ | |time_zone = [[Tajikistan Time|TJT]] | ||
+ | |utc_offset = +5 | ||
+ | |time_zone_DST = | ||
+ | |utc_offset_DST = | ||
+ | |cctld = [[.tj]] | ||
+ | |calling_code = 992 | ||
+ | |footnotes = <sup>1</sup> Rank based on UN figures for 2005; estimate based on CIA figures for 2006. | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | + | '''Tajikistan''' (alternately '''Tajikstan'''), officially, the '''Republic of Tajikistan''' ([[Tajik language|Tajik:]] {{unicode|'''ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон'''}}) is a mountainous [[landlocked]] country in [[Central Asia]]. It borders [[Afghanistan]] to the south, [[Uzbekistan]] to the west, [[Kyrgyzstan]] to the north, and [[China]] to the east. It is home mainly to the [[Tajiks]], who share culture and history with the [[Iranian peoples|Iranian]]s, and speak the [[Tajik language]]. Once the location of the [[Samanid|Samanid Empire]], Tajikistan became a constituent republic of the [[Soviet Union]] in the [[20th century]], known as the [[Tajik SSR|Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic]]. | |
− | + | After independence, Tajikistan suffered from a devastating [[Civil War in Tajikistan|civil war]] which lasted from [[1992]] to [[1999]]. Since the end of the war, newly-established political stability and foreign aid have allowed the country's economy to grow. Its natural resources such as [[cotton]] and [[aluminium]] have contributed greatly to this steady improvement, although observers have characterized the country as having few natural resources besides hydroelectric power and its strategic location.<ref name=greenberg>Greenberg, Ilan, "Media Muzzled and Opponents Jailed, Tajikistan Readies for Vote," ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[November 4]], [[2006]] (article dateline [[November 3]], [[2006]]), page A7, New York edition</ref> | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ==Name== | |
− | + | "''Tajikistan''" means the "Land of the Tajiks". Some believe that the name Tajik is a geographic reference to the crown (''Taj'') of the [[Pamir Mountains|Pamir Knot]]. | |
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− | + | Tajikistan frequently appeared as ''Tadjikistan'' or ''Tadzhikistan'' in English, though when pronounced in English many Tajiks say "Tojikiston', with an emphasis on a 'o' sound, rather than an 'a' sound. This former transliteration of ''Tadjikistan'' or ''Tadzhikistan'' is from the Russian ''Таджикистан.'' In Russian there is no single letter ''j'' to represent the phoneme /ʤ/ and ''дж'', or ''dzh'', is used. ''Tadzhikistan'' is the most common alternate spelling and is widely used in English literature derived from Russian sources. ''Tadjikistan'' is the spelling in French and can occasionally be found in English language texts. The way of writing Tajikistan in the [[Perso-Arabic script]] is: .تاجکستان | |
− | Tajikistan | + | Controversy surrounds the correct term used to identify people from Tajikistan. The word ''Tajik'' has been the traditional term used to describe people from Tajikistan and appears widely in literature. But the ethnic politics of Central Asia have made the word ''Tajik'' a controversial word, as it implies that Tajikistan is only a nation for ethnic Tajiks and not ethnic Uzbeks, Russians, etc. In addition, the [[Pamiri people|Pamiri]] population in [[Gorno-Badakhshan]] also have sought to create an ethnic identity separate from that of the Tajiks. There is a growing consensus that [[Demographics of Tajikistan|Tajikistani]], which is not ethnic specific and is inclusive of ethnic Tajiks and non-Tajiks alike, is the correct term to call people{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. |
− | + | ==History== | |
+ | {{main|History of Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | [[Image:ZoroastrianTemple WakhanValley Tajikistan.jpg|thumb|250px|left|An ancient [[Zoroastrian]] temple in the [[Wakhan]] Valley, Tajikistan.]] | ||
+ | ===Early history=== | ||
+ | {{seealso|Samanid}} | ||
+ | The land that is now Tajikistan has been inhabited continuously since 4,000 [[Anno Domini|BCE]] {{Fact|date=February 2007}}. It has been under the rule of various empires throughout history, mostly the [[Persian Empire]]. Before the [[Common Era]], it was part of the [[Bactria]]n Empire. [[Arab]]s brought [[Islam]] in the 7th century CE. The Persians [[Samanids|Samanid Empire]] supplanted the Arabs and built the cities of [[Samarkand]] and [[Bukhara]], which became the cultural centers of Tajiks. The [[Mongols]] would later take partial control of Central Asia, and later the land that today comprises Tajikistan became a part of the emirate of Bukhara. A small community of [[Jews]], displaced from the Middle East after the Babylonian captivity, migrated to the region and settled there after [[600 B.C.E.]], though the majority of Jews did not migrate to Tajikistan until the 20th century. | ||
− | + | ===Russian presence=== | |
− | + | {{seealso|The Great Game}} | |
− | |||
− | |||
− | + | [[Image:Tajikistancivilwar-gun.jpg|right|thumb|150px|After the collapse of the [[Soviet Union]], [[Civil War in Tajikistan|Tajikistan plunged into civil war]]. The rise of Tajik nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism coupled with political struggles between the ruling elite and the opposition were all key factors in the conflict.]] | |
− | + | In the 19th century, the [[Russian Empire]] led by Andonis Petanski began to spread into [[Central Asia]] during the [[Great Game]], and it took control of Tajikistan. After the overthrow of the [[Tsar]] in 1917, guerillas throughout Central Asia, known as ''[[basmachi]]'' waged a war against [[Bolshevik]] armies in a futile attempt to maintain independence. The Bolsheviks would prevail after a four-year war, in which [[mosque]]s and villages were burned down and the population heavily suppressed. Soviet authorities imposed a draconian secularization campaign, practicing [[Muslims]], [[Jews]], and Christians were heavily persecuted, and mosques, churches, and synagogues were closed. | |
− | + | ===Soviet Tajikistan=== | |
+ | {{main|Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic}} | ||
+ | In [[1924]], the [[Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]] was created as a part of [[Uzbekistan]], but in [[1929]] the [[Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic]] was made a separate constituent republic. [[Moscow]] did little to develop Tajikistan and it remained relatively behind other [[Republics of the Soviet Union|Soviet Republics]] in living conditions, education and industry. In the [[1970s]], dissident Islamic underground parties began to form and by the late [[1980s]] Tajik nationalists were calling for increased rights. Real disturbances did not occur within the republic until [[1990]]. The following year, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Tajikistan declared its independence. | ||
− | === | + | ===Independence=== |
+ | {{main|Civil War in Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | The nation almost immediately fell into a civil war that involved various factions fighting one another, these factions were often distinguished by clan loyalties. The non-Muslim population, particularly Russians and Jews, fled the country during this time because of persecution, increased poverty and better economic opportunities in the West. [[Emomali Rahmonov]] came to power in [[1992]], and continues to rule to this day. However, he has been accused of ethnic cleansing against other ethnicities and groups during the [[Civil War in Tajikistan]]. In [[1997]], a [[ceasefire]] was reached between Rahmonov and opposition parties ([[United Tajik Opposition]]). Peaceful elections were held in [[1999]], but they were reported by the opposition as unfair, and Rahmonov was re-elected by almost unanimous vote. [[Russia]]n troops were stationed in southern Tajikistan, in order to guard the border with [[Afghanistan]], until summer [[2005]]. Since the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], [[United States|American]] and [[France|French]] troops have also been stationed in the country. | ||
− | + | ==Politics== | |
− | + | [[Image:Emomali Rahmonov 2001.jpg|right|thumb|150px|Tajikistan's president [[Emomali Rahmonov]].]] | |
+ | {{main|Politics of Tajikistan}} | ||
− | + | Almost immediately after independence, Tajikistan was plunged into a [[Tajikistan Civil War|civil war]] that saw various factions, allegedly backed by Russia and [[Iran]], fighting one another. All but 25,000 of the more than 400,000 ethnic Russians, who were mostly employed in [[industry]], fled to Russia. By [[1997]], the war had cooled down, and a central government began to take form, with peaceful elections in [[1999]]. | |
− | = | + | "Longtime observers of Tajikistan often characterize the country as profoundly averse to risk and skeptical of promises of reform, a political passivity they trace to the country’s ruinous civil war," Ilan Greenberg wrote in a news article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' just before the country's [[November]] [[2006]] presidential election.<ref name=greenberg/> |
+ | |||
+ | Tajikistan is officially a [[republic]], and holds [[elections]] for the [[List of Presidents of Tajikistan|President]] and [[Parliament]]. The latest elections occurred in [[2005]], and as all previous elections, international observers believe them to have been corrupt, arousing many accusations from opposition parties that President [[Emomali Rahmonov]] manipulates the election process. | ||
− | + | The [[November 6]], [[2006]] election was boycotted by "mainline" opposition parties, including the 23,000-member [[Islamist]] [[Islamic Renaissance Party]]. Four remaining opponents "all but endorsed the incumbent", Rakhmonov.<ref name=greenberg/> | |
− | + | Tajikistan to this date is one of the few countries in Central Asia to have included an active opposition in its government. In the Parliament, opposition groups have often clashed with the ruling party, but this has not led to great instability. | |
− | + | ==Administrative divisions== | |
+ | Tajikistan consists of 4 administrative divisions: 2 provinces ([[Sughd]] and [[Khatlon]]), 1 autonomous province ([[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province|Gorno-Badakhshan]]), and the [[Region of Republican Subordination]] (formerly known as [[Karotagin Province]]). | ||
− | + | {| class="wikitable" | |
+ | |- bgcolor="#efefef" | ||
+ | ! Division !! [[ISO 3166-2]] !! Capital !! Area (sq. km)!! Pop (2000) !! Key | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! [[Sughd]] | ||
+ | | |TJ-SU|| [[Khujand]] || 26,100 || 1,870,000 || 1 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! [[Region of Republican Subordination]] | ||
+ | | TJ-RR || [[Dushanbe]] || 28,400 || 1,338,000 || 2 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! [[Khatlon]] | ||
+ | | TJ-KT|| [[Qurghonteppa]] || 24,600 || 2,150,000 || 3 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | ! [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province|Gorno-Badakhshan]] | ||
+ | | TJ-BG|| [[Khorugh]] || 63,700 || 206,000 ||4 | ||
+ | |} | ||
− | + | Each region consists of several districts (called "nohiya"). | |
− | |||
− | + | ==Economy== | |
+ | {{main|Economy of Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | Tajikistan was the poorest country in Central Asia as well in the former Soviet Union following a civil war after it became independent in 1991. With foreign revenue precariously dependent upon exports of cotton and aluminum, the economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. In FY 2000, international assistance remained an essential source of support for rehabilitation programs that reintegrated former civil war combatants into the civilian economy, thus helping keep the peace. International assistance also was necessary to address the second year of severe [[drought]] that resulted in a continued shortfall of food production. On [[August 21]], [[2001]], the [[Red Cross]] announced that a [[famine]] was striking Tajikistan, and called for international aid for Tajikistan and [[Uzbekistan]]. Tajikistan's economy grew substantially after the war. The GDP of Tajikistan expanded at an average rate of 9.6% over the period of 2000-2004 according to the World Bank data. This improved Tajikistan's position among other Central Asian countries (namely [[Turkmenistan]] and Uzbekistan), which seem to have degraded economically ever since.<ref>{{cite web | ||
+ | |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/456900/456938/html/nn4page1.stm | ||
+ | |title= BBC's Guide to Central Asia | ||
+ | |publisher=BBC News | ||
+ | |accessdate=2006-11-01 | ||
+ | }}</ref> | ||
+ | Tajikistan is an active member of the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] (ECO). | ||
− | Tajikistan is | + | ==Demographics== |
+ | [[Image:Tajik oldman.jpg|thumb|150px|A Tajik oldman]] | ||
+ | {{main|Demographics of Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | Tajikistan has a population of 7,320,716 (July 2006 est.). [[Tajiks]] who speak the [[Tajik language]] are the main ethnic group, although there is a sizeable minority of [[Uzbeks]], and a small population of [[Russians]], whose numbers are declining due to emigration. [[Pamiri people|Pamiris]] of [[Badakhshan]] are considered to belong to larger group of Tajiks. Likewise, the official language of Tajikistan is the Tajik language, while [[Russian language|Russian]] is largely spoken in business and for government purposes. Although the Tajik and Uzbek are now classified as separate ethnic groups, on account of their languages, this is a relatively new phenomenon and originates from the conquest of Central Asia by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Despite its poverty, Tajikistan has a high rate of literacy with an estimated 98% of the population having the ability to read and write. Most of the population follows [[Sunni Islam]], although a sizeable number of [[Shi'a Islam|Shi'a]] are present as well. [[Bukharan Jews]] had lived in Tajikistan since the 2nd century B.C.E., but today only a few hundred remain. There is also a small population of [[Yaghnobi people]]. | ||
− | + | The Tajik Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare reported that 104,272 disabled people are registered in Tajikistan (2000). This group of people suffers most from poverty in Tajikistan. The Tajik government and the World Bank considered activities to support this part of the population described in the World Bank's Poverty Reduction Paper.<ref>{{cite web | |
+ | |url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000094946_02112004011765 | ||
+ | |title=Tajikistan - Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and joint assessment | ||
+ | |publisher=World Bank | ||
+ | |accessdate=2006-11-01 | ||
+ | }}</ref> | ||
+ | ==Geography== | ||
+ | {{main|Geography of Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | [[Image:Tajikistan satellite photo.jpg|thumb|250px|Satellite photograph of Tajikistan]] | ||
− | + | [[Image:USSR-Tajikistan-Peak Communism.jpg|thumb|270px|A photograph of [[Ismoil Somoni Peak]] (then known as ''Peak Communism'') taken in 1989 when Tajikistan was part of the [[Soviet Union]].]] | |
− | Tajikistan is the | + | Tajikistan is landlocked, and is the smallest nation in Central Asia by area. It is covered by mountains of the [[Pamir Mountains|Pamir]] range, and more than fifty percent of the country is over 3,000 meters (approx. 10,000 ft) above [[sea level]]. The only major areas of lower land are in the north which is part of the Fergana Valley, and in the southern Kafirnigan and Vakhsh valleys which form the Amu Darya and have much higher rainfall. Dushanbe is located on the southern slopes above the Kafirnigan valley. |
− | + | The [[Amu Darya]] and [[Panj River|Panj]] rivers mark the border with Afghanistan, and Tajikistan's mountains are the major source of [[runoff (water)|runoff]] for the [[Aral Sea]] b | |
− | + | About 1% of the country's area is covered by lakes: | |
+ | *[[Kuli]] | ||
+ | *[[Obanbori Norak]] | ||
+ | *[[Qarokul]] | ||
+ | *[[Shorkul]] | ||
+ | *[[Yashilkul]] | ||
+ | *[[Zorkul]] | ||
− | == | + | {|style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:85%;" align=center |
+ | |- | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |Mountain | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 153, 51);" colspan=2 align="center"|Height | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(204, 153, 51);" colspan=2 align="center"|Location | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Independence Peak]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |7,174 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |23,537 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |{{nbsp|4}}Northern border in the [[Trans-Alay Range]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | [[Kyzylart Pass]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |4,280 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |14,042 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |{{nbsp|4}}Northern border in the [[Trans-Alay Range]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | [[Ismoil Somoni Peak]] (highest) | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(143, 177, 172);" |7,495 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(143, 177, 172);" |24,590 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(143, 177, 172);" |{{nbsp|4}}North of the [[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Avicenna Peak]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(188, 137, 190);" |6,974 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(188, 137, 190);" |22,881 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(188, 137, 190);" |{{nbsp|4}}North of [[Ismoil Somoni Peak]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Peak Korzhenievski]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(201, 185, 116);" |7,105 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(201, 185, 116);" |23,310 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(201, 185, 116);" |{{nbsp|4}}[[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Qatorkuhi Akademiyai Fanho]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(151, 199, 137);" |6,785 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(151, 199, 137);" |22,260 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(151, 199, 137);" |{{nbsp|4}}[[Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Concord Peak]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(208, 172, 132);" |5,469 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(208, 172, 132);" |17,943 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(208, 172, 132);" |{{nbsp|4}}Southern border in the northern ridge of the [[Karakoram Range]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |[[Qullai Karl Marks]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |6,726 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |22,067 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center;" |{{nbsp|4}}Southern border in the northern ridge of the [[Karakoram Range]] | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | [[Qullai Mayakovskiy]] | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |6,096 m | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |20,000 ft | ||
+ | |style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(192, 154, 124);" |{{nbsp|4}}Along the border to Afghanistan. | ||
+ | |} | ||
− | + | ==Culture== | |
+ | [[Image:Duschanbe Somonidenkmal.jpg|thumb|200px|Modern Tajiks proudly view the Persian [[Samanid|Samanid Empire]] as being the first Tajik state in history. This monument located in Tajikistan's capital of [[Dushanbe]] honors [[Saman Khuda]], ancestor of the Samanids and a source of Tajik nationalism.]] | ||
− | + | {{main|Culture of Tajikistan}} | |
− | + | The [[Yaghnobi people]] live in mountainous areas of northern Tajikistan. The estimated number of Yagnobians is now about 250,000. Forced migrations have decimated their numbers. They speak the [[Yaghnobi language]], which has its roots in the [[Sogdian language]]. | |
− | + | *[[Music of Tajikistan]] | |
− | * [ | + | *[[Islam in Tajikistan]] |
− | * [ | + | *[[Public holidays in Tajikistan]] |
+ | *[[Cuisine of Tajikistan]] | ||
− | == | + | ==Notes== |
− | + | {{reflist}} | |
+ | ==See also== | ||
+ | *[[Communications in Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | *[[Foreign relations of Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | *[[Ittihodi Scouthoi Tojikiston]] | ||
+ | *[[Military of Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | *[[Transportation in Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | *[[List of cities in Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | *[[Agriculture in Tajikistan]] | ||
+ | {{sisterlinks|Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | ==Further reading== | ||
+ | *''Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan'' by Kamoludin Abdullaev and Shahram Akbarzadeh | ||
+ | *''Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia'' by Monica Whitlock | ||
+ | *''Tajikistan: Disintegration or Reconciliation'' by [[Shirin Akiner]] | ||
+ | *''Tajikistan: The Trials of Independence'' by [[Shirin Akiner]], Mohammad-Reza Djalili and Frederic Grare | ||
+ | ==External links and references== | ||
+ | *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1296639.stm BBC Country Profiles: Tajikistan] | ||
+ | *[https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ti.html CIA World Factbook - Tajikistan] | ||
+ | *[http://dmoz.org/Regional/Asia/Tajikistan Open Directory Project - ''Tajikistan''] | ||
+ | *[http://www.khovar.tj/ Khovar] Tajikistan news agency. | ||
+ | *[http://www.tajik-gateway.org/ Tajik Development Gateway] | ||
+ | *[http://tajikistan.neweurasia.net/ ''neweurasia'' Tajikistan blog] | ||
+ | *[http://www.uf.uz/content/page_9_0.html United Friends - Tajikistan] Tourist information and photographs | ||
+ | <div style="clear: both"></div> | ||
+ | {{NavigationBox | ||
+ | |Title = About Tajikistan | ||
+ | |List = | ||
+ | {{Regions in Tajikistan}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{NavigationBox | ||
+ | |Title = Geographic navigations | ||
+ | |List = | ||
+ | {{Countries of Asia}} | ||
+ | {{Countries of Central Asia}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{NavigationBox | ||
+ | |Title = International organizations | ||
+ | |List = | ||
+ | {{Eurasian Economic Community}} | ||
+ | {{Commonwealth of Independent States}} | ||
+ | {{OIC}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
+ | {{NavigationBox | ||
+ | |Title = Others | ||
+ | |List = | ||
+ | {{Iranian-speaking nations}} | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | + | [[Category:Tajikistan| ]] | |
− | + | [[Category:Central Asian countries]] | |
− | + | [[Category:Landlocked countries]] | |
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Revision as of 00:32, 17 March 2007
Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон Jumhurii Tojikiston Republic of Tajikistan | |||||
| |||||
Motto: none | |||||
Anthem: Surudi Milli | |||||
Capital (and largest city) |
Dushanbe 38°33′N 68°48′E | ||||
Official languages | Persian (Tajik (Tajiki Persian) is the official dialect) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Government | Unitary republic | ||||
- President | Emomali Rahmonov | ||||
- Prime Minister | Okil Okilov | ||||
Independence | |||||
- Declared | September 9 1991 | ||||
- Completed | December 25 1991 | ||||
- Establishment of the Samanid Empire | 875 C.E. | ||||
Area | |||||
- Total | 143,100 km² (95th) 55,251 sq mi | ||||
- Water (%) | 0.3 | ||||
Population | |||||
- July 2006 estimate | 7,320,0001 | ||||
- 2000 census | 6,127,000 | ||||
- Density | 45/km² 117/sq mi | ||||
GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | ||||
- Total | $8.802 billion | ||||
- Per capita | $1,388 | ||||
HDI (2004) | 0.652 (medium) | ||||
Currency | Somoni (TJS )
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Time zone | TJT (UTC+5) | ||||
Internet TLD | .tj | ||||
Calling code | +992 | ||||
1 Rank based on UN figures for 2005; estimate based on CIA figures for 2006. |
Tajikistan (alternately Tajikstan), officially, the Republic of Tajikistan (Tajik: ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон) is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. It borders Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east. It is home mainly to the Tajiks, who share culture and history with the Iranians, and speak the Tajik language. Once the location of the Samanid Empire, Tajikistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union in the 20th century, known as the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic.
After independence, Tajikistan suffered from a devastating civil war which lasted from 1992 to 1999. Since the end of the war, newly-established political stability and foreign aid have allowed the country's economy to grow. Its natural resources such as cotton and aluminium have contributed greatly to this steady improvement, although observers have characterized the country as having few natural resources besides hydroelectric power and its strategic location.[1]
Name
"Tajikistan" means the "Land of the Tajiks". Some believe that the name Tajik is a geographic reference to the crown (Taj) of the Pamir Knot.
Tajikistan frequently appeared as Tadjikistan or Tadzhikistan in English, though when pronounced in English many Tajiks say "Tojikiston', with an emphasis on a 'o' sound, rather than an 'a' sound. This former transliteration of Tadjikistan or Tadzhikistan is from the Russian Таджикистан. In Russian there is no single letter j to represent the phoneme /ʤ/ and дж, or dzh, is used. Tadzhikistan is the most common alternate spelling and is widely used in English literature derived from Russian sources. Tadjikistan is the spelling in French and can occasionally be found in English language texts. The way of writing Tajikistan in the Perso-Arabic script is: .تاجکستان
Controversy surrounds the correct term used to identify people from Tajikistan. The word Tajik has been the traditional term used to describe people from Tajikistan and appears widely in literature. But the ethnic politics of Central Asia have made the word Tajik a controversial word, as it implies that Tajikistan is only a nation for ethnic Tajiks and not ethnic Uzbeks, Russians, etc. In addition, the Pamiri population in Gorno-Badakhshan also have sought to create an ethnic identity separate from that of the Tajiks. There is a growing consensus that Tajikistani, which is not ethnic specific and is inclusive of ethnic Tajiks and non-Tajiks alike, is the correct term to call people[citation needed].
History
Early history
The land that is now Tajikistan has been inhabited continuously since 4,000 B.C.E. [citation needed]. It has been under the rule of various empires throughout history, mostly the Persian Empire. Before the Common Era, it was part of the Bactrian Empire. Arabs brought Islam in the 7th century CE. The Persians Samanid Empire supplanted the Arabs and built the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara, which became the cultural centers of Tajiks. The Mongols would later take partial control of Central Asia, and later the land that today comprises Tajikistan became a part of the emirate of Bukhara. A small community of Jews, displaced from the Middle East after the Babylonian captivity, migrated to the region and settled there after 600 B.C.E., though the majority of Jews did not migrate to Tajikistan until the 20th century.
Russian presence
In the 19th century, the Russian Empire led by Andonis Petanski began to spread into Central Asia during the Great Game, and it took control of Tajikistan. After the overthrow of the Tsar in 1917, guerillas throughout Central Asia, known as basmachi waged a war against Bolshevik armies in a futile attempt to maintain independence. The Bolsheviks would prevail after a four-year war, in which mosques and villages were burned down and the population heavily suppressed. Soviet authorities imposed a draconian secularization campaign, practicing Muslims, Jews, and Christians were heavily persecuted, and mosques, churches, and synagogues were closed.
Soviet Tajikistan
In 1924, the Tajik Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was created as a part of Uzbekistan, but in 1929 the Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic was made a separate constituent republic. Moscow did little to develop Tajikistan and it remained relatively behind other Soviet Republics in living conditions, education and industry. In the 1970s, dissident Islamic underground parties began to form and by the late 1980s Tajik nationalists were calling for increased rights. Real disturbances did not occur within the republic until 1990. The following year, the Soviet Union collapsed, and Tajikistan declared its independence.
Independence
The nation almost immediately fell into a civil war that involved various factions fighting one another, these factions were often distinguished by clan loyalties. The non-Muslim population, particularly Russians and Jews, fled the country during this time because of persecution, increased poverty and better economic opportunities in the West. Emomali Rahmonov came to power in 1992, and continues to rule to this day. However, he has been accused of ethnic cleansing against other ethnicities and groups during the Civil War in Tajikistan. In 1997, a ceasefire was reached between Rahmonov and opposition parties (United Tajik Opposition). Peaceful elections were held in 1999, but they were reported by the opposition as unfair, and Rahmonov was re-elected by almost unanimous vote. Russian troops were stationed in southern Tajikistan, in order to guard the border with Afghanistan, until summer 2005. Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, American and French troops have also been stationed in the country.
Politics
Almost immediately after independence, Tajikistan was plunged into a civil war that saw various factions, allegedly backed by Russia and Iran, fighting one another. All but 25,000 of the more than 400,000 ethnic Russians, who were mostly employed in industry, fled to Russia. By 1997, the war had cooled down, and a central government began to take form, with peaceful elections in 1999.
"Longtime observers of Tajikistan often characterize the country as profoundly averse to risk and skeptical of promises of reform, a political passivity they trace to the country’s ruinous civil war," Ilan Greenberg wrote in a news article in The New York Times just before the country's November 2006 presidential election.[1]
Tajikistan is officially a republic, and holds elections for the President and Parliament. The latest elections occurred in 2005, and as all previous elections, international observers believe them to have been corrupt, arousing many accusations from opposition parties that President Emomali Rahmonov manipulates the election process.
The November 6, 2006 election was boycotted by "mainline" opposition parties, including the 23,000-member Islamist Islamic Renaissance Party. Four remaining opponents "all but endorsed the incumbent", Rakhmonov.[1]
Tajikistan to this date is one of the few countries in Central Asia to have included an active opposition in its government. In the Parliament, opposition groups have often clashed with the ruling party, but this has not led to great instability.
Administrative divisions
Tajikistan consists of 4 administrative divisions: 2 provinces (Sughd and Khatlon), 1 autonomous province (Gorno-Badakhshan), and the Region of Republican Subordination (formerly known as Karotagin Province).
Division | ISO 3166-2 | Capital | Area (sq. km) | Pop (2000) | Key |
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Sughd | TJ-SU | Khujand | 26,100 | 1,870,000 | 1 |
Region of Republican Subordination | TJ-RR | Dushanbe | 28,400 | 1,338,000 | 2 |
Khatlon | TJ-KT | Qurghonteppa | 24,600 | 2,150,000 | 3 |
Gorno-Badakhshan | TJ-BG | Khorugh | 63,700 | 206,000 | 4 |
Each region consists of several districts (called "nohiya").
Economy
Tajikistan was the poorest country in Central Asia as well in the former Soviet Union following a civil war after it became independent in 1991. With foreign revenue precariously dependent upon exports of cotton and aluminum, the economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. In FY 2000, international assistance remained an essential source of support for rehabilitation programs that reintegrated former civil war combatants into the civilian economy, thus helping keep the peace. International assistance also was necessary to address the second year of severe drought that resulted in a continued shortfall of food production. On August 21, 2001, the Red Cross announced that a famine was striking Tajikistan, and called for international aid for Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan's economy grew substantially after the war. The GDP of Tajikistan expanded at an average rate of 9.6% over the period of 2000-2004 according to the World Bank data. This improved Tajikistan's position among other Central Asian countries (namely Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan), which seem to have degraded economically ever since.[2] Tajikistan is an active member of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
Demographics
Tajikistan has a population of 7,320,716 (July 2006 est.). Tajiks who speak the Tajik language are the main ethnic group, although there is a sizeable minority of Uzbeks, and a small population of Russians, whose numbers are declining due to emigration. Pamiris of Badakhshan are considered to belong to larger group of Tajiks. Likewise, the official language of Tajikistan is the Tajik language, while Russian is largely spoken in business and for government purposes. Although the Tajik and Uzbek are now classified as separate ethnic groups, on account of their languages, this is a relatively new phenomenon and originates from the conquest of Central Asia by the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Despite its poverty, Tajikistan has a high rate of literacy with an estimated 98% of the population having the ability to read and write. Most of the population follows Sunni Islam, although a sizeable number of Shi'a are present as well. Bukharan Jews had lived in Tajikistan since the 2nd century B.C.E., but today only a few hundred remain. There is also a small population of Yaghnobi people.
The Tajik Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare reported that 104,272 disabled people are registered in Tajikistan (2000). This group of people suffers most from poverty in Tajikistan. The Tajik government and the World Bank considered activities to support this part of the population described in the World Bank's Poverty Reduction Paper.[3]
Geography
Tajikistan is landlocked, and is the smallest nation in Central Asia by area. It is covered by mountains of the Pamir range, and more than fifty percent of the country is over 3,000 meters (approx. 10,000 ft) above sea level. The only major areas of lower land are in the north which is part of the Fergana Valley, and in the southern Kafirnigan and Vakhsh valleys which form the Amu Darya and have much higher rainfall. Dushanbe is located on the southern slopes above the Kafirnigan valley.
The Amu Darya and Panj rivers mark the border with Afghanistan, and Tajikistan's mountains are the major source of runoff for the Aral Sea b
About 1% of the country's area is covered by lakes:
- Kuli
- Obanbori Norak
- Qarokul
- Shorkul
- Yashilkul
- Zorkul
Mountain | Height | Location | ||
Independence Peak | 7,174 m | 23,537 ft | Northern border in the Trans-Alay Range | |
Kyzylart Pass | 4,280 m | 14,042 ft | Northern border in the Trans-Alay Range | |
Ismoil Somoni Peak (highest) | 7,495 m | 24,590 ft | North of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | |
Avicenna Peak | 6,974 m | 22,881 ft | North of Ismoil Somoni Peak | |
Peak Korzhenievski | 7,105 m | 23,310 ft | Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | |
Qatorkuhi Akademiyai Fanho | 6,785 m | 22,260 ft | Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province | |
Concord Peak | 5,469 m | 17,943 ft | Southern border in the northern ridge of the Karakoram Range | |
Qullai Karl Marks | 6,726 m | 22,067 ft | Southern border in the northern ridge of the Karakoram Range | |
Qullai Mayakovskiy | 6,096 m | 20,000 ft | Along the border to Afghanistan. |
Culture
The Yaghnobi people live in mountainous areas of northern Tajikistan. The estimated number of Yagnobians is now about 250,000. Forced migrations have decimated their numbers. They speak the Yaghnobi language, which has its roots in the Sogdian language.
- Music of Tajikistan
- Islam in Tajikistan
- Public holidays in Tajikistan
- Cuisine of Tajikistan
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Greenberg, Ilan, "Media Muzzled and Opponents Jailed, Tajikistan Readies for Vote," The New York Times, November 4, 2006 (article dateline November 3, 2006), page A7, New York edition
- ↑ BBC's Guide to Central Asia. BBC News. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
- ↑ Tajikistan - Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) and joint assessment. World Bank. Retrieved 2006-11-01.
See also
- Communications in Tajikistan
- Foreign relations of Tajikistan
- Ittihodi Scouthoi Tojikiston
- Military of Tajikistan
- Transportation in Tajikistan
- List of cities in Tajikistan
- Agriculture in Tajikistan
Further reading
- Historical Dictionary of Tajikistan by Kamoludin Abdullaev and Shahram Akbarzadeh
- Land Beyond the River: The Untold Story of Central Asia by Monica Whitlock
- Tajikistan: Disintegration or Reconciliation by Shirin Akiner
- Tajikistan: The Trials of Independence by Shirin Akiner, Mohammad-Reza Djalili and Frederic Grare
External links and references
- BBC Country Profiles: Tajikistan
- CIA World Factbook - Tajikistan
- Open Directory Project - Tajikistan
- Khovar Tajikistan news agency.
- Tajik Development Gateway
- neweurasia Tajikistan blog
- United Friends - Tajikistan Tourist information and photographs
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