ABSTRACT
The traditional culture of Central Asian society has proven quite resilient, and the society has managed to transform the goals of the colonizers as well as being transformed by them. All Central Asians consider themselves to be Muslims, even if they may differ among themselves as to what is meant by the designation. The history of Central Asia is the history of rival indigenous states and of foreign powers competing for control over the territory. Traditional Central Asian society, with the exception of northern Kazakhstan and the Russian-dominated republican capitals, was never destroyed, but only altered and camouflaged to avoid detection by prying Russian eyes. One of the greatest challenges facing Soviet planners in the realm of social and economic policy in Central Asia is the high rate of population growth among the indigenous nationalities. The success of Moscow's economic policies depends on the support of the Central Asian elites, as well as the cooperation of the masses.
