A new era of U.S. punditry on Central Asia?

Some recent articles in Harpers have strongly criticized some of the scholars in the U.S. who comment on Central Asia. In particular, criticism focused on two centers for the study of the Caspian region at Johns Hopkins and Harvard respectively. Unlike in the past, people interested in Central Asia are watching more closely who is funding research and what other agendas they may have beyond increasing knowledge on the region.