Abstract
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the independence of the countries located in Central Asia, the region acquired particular geopolitical significance: superpower competition for influence and the realization of their own geopolitical interests intensified. However, among the many unresolved issues, one of them is the correct description of the geography of Central Asia from a scientific and geopolitical perspective. Powerful and interested states—the United States, Russia, China, Iran, and others—while protecting their geopolitical interests, describe the territory of Central Asia differently in academic circles and strategic documents, which has sparked much debate over the precise identification of this territory. Thus, the concept of "Central Asia" is interpreted differently by academic circles in various countries, and each of these interpretations has been specifically analyzed.
Keywords
Central Asia; geopolitics; interpretation; geographical description; scientific school; USA; Russia; China; Iran
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