Tajikistan
The Central Asian country of Tajikistan has had a long and often violent history with Russia. Once a weaker link in the Soviet empire, Tajikistan - a majority Sunni Muslim country carved out of neighboring nations - suffered a bloody civil war from 1992 to 1997 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Decimated, The Tajik economy has only in recent years began to rebound in its transition from a planned to market economy. Much of Tajikistan's GDP is dependent upon foreign remittance, most of which comes from Russia. Couple this with their long, complex history and the warm regards for Moscow becomes easier to understand. Russia has its own reasons for maintaining close ties with, and a watchful eye over, Tajikistan: drugs and terrorism, to name a couple. With a strong Islamist presence, not to mention a large hand in the global heroin trade, Tajikistan has become a cause for concern - and close observation - in Moscow. Global Top 5s is a monthly feature by RealClearWorld.com powered by Gallup's worldwide research. Learn more at Gallup.com.
