Central Eurasia: Oil, Poverty, and the Struggle for Democracy

his issue of Open Society News focuses on the Caucasus and Central Asia in an effort to familiarize many of our readers with an area of growing international importance where open society is struggling to take hold. While each country in the two regions is different and complex in its own way, many of the basic elements of open society — democracy, rule of law, access to information, strong civic organizations — are fragile or threatened. By highlighting some of these problems and the individuals and organizations trying to solve them, this issue provides a realistic picture of the challenges ahead. It also invites readers to learn about and participate in promoting open society in the two regions.

• LOOKING BEYOND TRANSITION IN CENTRAL ASIA
• WILL OIL FUNDS BENEFIT THE MASSES? (OR JUST THE RULING CLASSES)
• GEORGIA APPEALS TO PUBLIC TO HELP FIGHT CORRUPTION
• MUSIC OPENS PASSAGES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST
• HELPING STREET KIDS COPE WITH DRUGS AND AIDS
• STRUGGLING FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
• LEFT BEHIND IN THE RUSH TO GO ONLINE
• NO WAY OUT FOR BATTERED WOMEN
• WESTERN POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA: VALUES OR GEOPOLITICS?
• EARTHQUAKES IN AN OPEN SOCIETY