From the Journal of Power Institutions in Post-Soviet Societies, a special issue on Security and Defense Reform in Central Asia. The discourse of danger: A common Western geopolitical vision of Central Asia distorts policy towards the region. Playing with Fire: Shades of gray envelop political Islam in autocratic Central Asia. From Diplomatic Courier, the modern story of Central Asia is one where Central Asian states and local elites are increasing integration with the rest of the continent and beyond; and the 21st century will see the revival of the Silk Road that ages ago connected Asia to Europe, and this will be a windfall for landlocked-Central Asian countries whose access to regional and world markets rests on an efficient road system. Elvira Kurmanalieva and Ziyodullo Parpiev on geography and trade in Central Asia. Soviet Stepchildren: Communism fell, but liberty has yet to arrive in Central Asia. Stung by Amnesty International: It shouldn't take a high profile cancellation by Sting to draw attention to the human rights abuses happening in Central Asia. Unlike governments of the Middle East that have failed to deliver what the people need, Kazakhstan remains on a dynamic path of development that is widely supported in society. News for make benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan: Ethan Wilensky-Lanford on the Washington Times and the foreign newswire that wasn’t. Philip Shishkin on the enemy we need: Washington courts a repressive Uzbekistan — again.J. Berkshire Miller on Tajikistan’s security curse. Watching soap operas in Kabul: In post-Taliban Afghanistan, television is back and hugely popular. In Afghanistan, the wisdom of the powerful has resulted in decades of endless violence — what might we learn from ordinary people? The Door to Hell is actually located in Turkmenistan.

The latest issue of Kenneth Burke Journal is out. From Arts and Opinion, George Scialabba on Chomsky, Hitchens and 9/11; and David Solway deconstructs Noam Chomsky. From Stanford Social Innovation Review, an article on the problem with fair trade coffee. From nonsite.org, a special issue on neuro-, cognitive, and evolutionary aesthetics, including an interview with Walter Benn Michaels on photography and politics. Your commute is killing you: Long commutes cause obesity, neck pain, loneliness, divorce, stress, and insomnia. A profile of David Yerushalmi, the man behind the anti-Shariah movement. Wired, pyjama communism drives ethical hackers: In the face of growing intolerance, hactivists continue to expose erring corporates and governments. Ariel Levy on the rush to lose her virginity at fourteen: “Nobody would gasp if they heard a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old had lost her virginity. The clock was ticking”. From Cabinet, the birth of modern cryptanalysis: William Sherman on how to make anything signify anything. As researchers explore using psychedelic drugs to treat mental illness, a powerful Amazonian hallucinogen is gaining the most devoted followers of all. It’s an imperative with a millennia-long history, but why is it important to develop a thorough knowledge of the self? Raise your weapons: An interview with Mickey Z. Josef H. Reichholf's The Origin of Beauty: Darwin's Greatest Dilemma is a declaration of love for a nature that is not simply utilitarian but also wasteful and theatrical. Maria Bustillos on Marshall McLuhan, Superstar. The rise of the macro-nationalists: The manifesto of Anders Behring Breivik reveals a new doctrine of civilizational war that represents the closest thing yet to a Christian version of Al Qaeda. Dear Angry Lunatic: Sam Harris responds to Chris Hedges.

From the latest issue of Policy Review, Andrew Stark on Conservative Humility, Liberal Irony: Getting to the bottom of two temperaments. How will President Obama and his party justify the spending cuts in the debt deal? Ezra Kelin on winners and losers, policy edition. Did the president surrender, or did he do the best he could? Paul Krugman says the president surrendered — Democrats should kill the bill. Brian Beutler on the four big problems with — and four silver linings around — the debt limit deal. Jay Newton-Small on five things for liberals to like in the debt ceiling deal. What exactly is wrong with this deal? If Democrats read the fine print on the debt deal struck by President Obama and Congressional leaders, Nate Silver says, they’ll find that it’s a little better than it appears at first glance. Jonathan Chait says the deal isn't so bad, but the rationale for it is. Jared Bernstein says lousy negotiating skills are not the problem — in fact, public opinion is everything, and liberals haven't persuaded the public to support their vision of government. A lot of what's hitting liberals over the last couple of weeks is a delayed reaction to the severity of the Republican landslide of 2010. Democrats will lose now — but they can win later. Andrew Sullivan on Obama's Pyrrhic defeat. What we’ve arrived at is a thinly veiled Grand Bargain (judging by the numbers, the triggers, and the political positioning) — and that adds up to a victory for the President and Democrats. The mindless hysteria of right-wing sheep: Hey, Dittoheads — you're being played for suckers! Polls show the importance of the Tea Party to the GOP base. The GOP Feedback Loop: How presidential candidates and Congressmen are moving each other to the right. Stanley Greenberg on why voters tune out Democrats. Worst Congress Ever: Americans have complained for years that their government is broken — this time they're right.