Main description:

The book outlines post-Soviet style of health management in Central Asia. Regional studies on Central Asia to date have focused on states, politics, religion and inter-ethnic relations but not on the health system within the region. Soviet-style policies have also covered only other aspects relevant for the region. This book highlights the public health situation of the region with a focus on drug abuse, HIV/AIDS in the context of increased mobility, and drug trafficking routes which became even more porous after the break-up of the Soviet Union.

Based on a qualitative study, the empirical data in the book was collected during long-term fieldwork conducted in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in 2010-2011 as well as shorter stays in Uzbekistan between 2012-2016. The analysis of the empirical material largely draws on the works of Foucault, particularly his concept of biopolitics when analyzing Soviet-style health management that is still practiced in the region. Applying the Foucauldian genealogical method, this study has been structured to trace the genealogy of epidemics to understand the historical path of drug abuse in the region as well as the discursive genealogy of drug politics and drug abuse. Applying the same genealogical method of Foucault, the formative and discursive trajectory of the institution of Uchyot was traced to contextualize the health governance methods that have historical legacy of Soviet-style governance and control of the total population.

Drugs and Public Health in Post-Soviet Central Asia: Soviet-Style Health Management is a unique resource for academic specialists, practitioners/professionals, and advanced undergraduate and graduate students in public health, as well as a range of scholars and professionals in sociology, political science, anthropology, and anyone with an interest in the Central Asia region, drug addiction, or HIV. The book also could appeal to international donors in the field of HIV/drug addiction who are working in the region.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction

1.1. Aims and scope of the study

1.2. (Mis)management of Public Health in Central Asia

1.3. Drugs in Central Asia

1.4. HIV epidemics in Central Asia and Migration

1.5. Gender and Drugs

1.6. Outline of the Chapters

Chapter 2 Drug Abuse and Public Health in Central Asia

Chapter 2 presents the general public health situation in Central Asia focusing on drug addiction and HIV prevalence as well as the outline of the aims of study, research problem and questions. The chapter also brings a comparative angle to situate the developments of the public health situation in the region within similar global challenges in public health in general.

Chapter 3 The History of Drug Abuse in Central Asia

Chapter 3 delves into the genealogy of HIV/AIDS epidemics in Central Asia using a Foucauldian method. The genealogy will present a detour to the historical path of drug use in Central Asia focusing on traditions and institutional traditions from the Soviet to post-Soviet periods.

Chapter 4 Biopolitics Soviet Style

Chapter 4 introduces the current situation of public health where the continuities of Soviet style management are still in place. This chapter will show what role forced labour played in the correctional punitive institutions for the members of at-risk groups. The chapter also presents narcology systems which outlived the Soviet system. In this chapter there will be also other comparative

Chapter 5 Drugs and Identity in Uzbekistan

Chapter 5 presents ethnographic material, namely daily lives and dillemmas of drug users in Uzbekistan. This chapter also deals with gender issues and identity crises of drug users in the context of local traditions, culture and local beliefs.

Chapter 6 Drugs and Migration in Central Asia

Chapter 6 provides a qualitative outline of the current challenges connected to the migration trends and its links to the public health situation in the region. The chapter also includes general discussion of the mobility and health studies to situate the developments in the region to the global implications of mobility and health and public health implications in general.

Chapter 7 Conclusion

The final chapter presents the findings of the research and situates the final conclusions within the general debate focusing on the pressing issues related to the findings of the research.