URBAN TRANSITION AND INTERSTATE RELATIONS IN A DYNAMIC POST-SOVIET BORDERLAND - THE XINJIANG UYGUR AUTONOMOUS REGION OF CHINA

Two noted American geographers examine transition in the Xinjiang Uygu r Autonomous Region (a de facto Soviet protectorate in the 1930s and e arly 1940s) within the context of that region's strategic position. Th e paper, based on field work exploring urbanization in the People's Re public of China, investigates the area's role as a bridgehead and corr idor for emerging economic relations between China and the neighboring republics of Central Asia. The focus is on the demographic dimensions of urban growth and the underlying geopolitical and economic factors. Considerable attention also is given to the implications of increased trade and improvements in transportation links with the newly indepen dent Central Asian states.