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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T000000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260512T133000
DTSTAMP:20260923T204320
CREATED:20260507T190444Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T225406Z
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SUMMARY:Central Asia at the Crossroads
DESCRIPTION:Connectivity\, Critical Minerals\, and the Future of Regional Sovereignty \n\n\n\nCentral Asia is undergoing its most significant strategic realignment since independence. The five post-Soviet republics — Kazakhstan\, Kyrgyzstan\, Tajikistan\, Turkmenistan\, and Uzbekistan — are increasingly behaving as a coordinated bloc\, signing mutual trade targets\, harmonizing border arrangements\, and engaging external partners through the C5+1 format and its emerging variants. At the same time\, the region sits at the heart of three intersecting global pressures: the competition for critical minerals\, the redrawing of Eurasian trade corridors\, and the security spillovers from a permanently unstable Afghan-Pakistani frontier. \n\n\n\nThis panel brings together leading practitioners and scholars from the New Lines Institute\, the World Bank\, and Nightingale International for a focused conversation on what Central Asia’s next decade requires — from regional governments\, from the United States\, and from international partners. The discussion will examine the New Lines Institute’s “Silk Seven Plus” (S7+) framework\, the durability of recent C5+1 commitments\, the structural barriers to intra-regional trade\, and the climate\, water\, and security risks that could derail integration if unaddressed. \n\n\n\nLunch will be served. The event is open to in-person attendees on the 6th floor of the New Lines Institute and to a virtual audience via livestream. \n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\nModerator: Dr. Dania Arayssi is a Senior Analyst at the Central Asia Center of the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy\, where her work focuses on regional political economy\, governance\, and U.S. policy toward Greater Central Asia. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service and teaches Comparative Political Economy at George Washington University. Her recent co-authored work has examined how regional frameworks such as S7+ can anchor Central Asia’s economic sovereignty while addressing shared challenges in water\, energy\, and trade infrastructure. \n\n\n\nPanelists: \n\n\n\nDr. Azeem Ibrahim\, OBE is the Chief Strategy Officer at the New Lines Institute and the principal architect of the institute’s Silk Seven Plus (S7+) framework — a diplomatic initiative that envisions Central Asia\, together with Afghanistan and Azerbaijan\, as a connected economic bloc capable of asserting regional sovereignty against coercive dependence on China and Russia. He is also an Adjunct Research Professor at the U.S. Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute and a columnist at Foreign Policy. He completed his PhD at the University of Cambridge and has held fellowships at Harvard’s Kennedy School and Yale. \n\n\n\nSobir Kurbanov is an international development professional with over two decades of experience advancing economic governance\, institutional reform\, and regional cooperation across Central Asia and Eurasia. His technical expertise spans macroeconomic management\, public sector governance\, digital development\, trade and private-sector development\, and policy evaluation\, complemented by a strong record in program design\, results-based management\, and donor coordination.Sobir has held senior roles with the World Bank Group\, the UK Department for International Development (DFID)\, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)\, and the Swiss Cooperation Office\, where he helped design and implement complex\, multi-country programs on governance\, including digital and ICT\, competitiveness\, and regional integration. His work has informed key World Bank and donor strategies and contributed to landmark initiatives such as Digital CASA and the B5+/C5+1 regional economic cooperation platform. He has authored and contributed to numerous publications and policy studies on Central Asia’s political economy\, trade\, and regional integration\, including works published by the CAREC Institute\, CIPE\, and the George Washington University Central Asia Program. His research has explored macro-economic reforms\, external financing\, labor migration\, cross-border value chains\, and the evolving role of the private sector in transition economies. Most recently\, Sobir has been supporting the World Bank’s Central Asia Jobs and Green Economic Transformation study\, leading stakeholder consultations\, private sector engagement\, and validation processes across the region. In parallel\, he has contributed to analytical work on returning migrants and labor market dynamics in Central Asia\, including rapid assessments linking migration\, jobs\, and social resilience in fragile and high-risk areas.Sobir holds an MSc in Economic Management and Policy from the University of Strathclyde (UK) and has taught courses on industrial policy and public policy reforms at the OSCE Academy and George Washington University\, blending academic rigor with extensive field-based policy experience. \n\n\n\nDr. Muneeza Mehmood Alam is a Senior Infrastructure Economist at the World Bank\, with extensive experience across the Europe and Central Asia\, Middle East and North Africa\, and South Asia regions. She joined the World Bank in 2015 and has since worked at the intersection of transport economics\, policy reform\, and operations\, helping countries translate analytics into impactful investments and reforms. Her work spans economic corridors and regional connectivity\, railways and logistics\, inclusive urban mobility\, gender-responsive transport\, and low‑carbon transport transitions. She has co-led major lending operations—including large-scale railway and economic corridor programs—and has played a central role in shaping national transport strategies\, regulatory reforms\, and cross-border connectivity agendas. A consistent theme of her work is understanding how transport investments can more effectively support jobs\, productivity\, and inclusion. Muneeza is also an active contributor to the World Bank’s global knowledge agenda. She has led and authored flagship analytical and research outputs on regional railways\, transport corridors\, and gender and mobility\, and regularly engages in multi-partner initiatives and cross-practice collaboration to advance integrated development solutions. Before joining the World Bank\, she worked in economic consulting in Washington\, DC. She holds a PhD in Economics from Yale University. \n\n\n\nJustin Burke is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience and the founder of Eurasianet\, an independent news outlet covering the former Soviet Union and broader Eurasia region. He began his career as a CBS News intern during the 1980 political conventions\, then worked for NBC News and TBS before joining the Associated Press in 1987 as a general news reporter in Detroit. From 1990 to 1993\, he served as the Christian Science Monitor’s Moscow correspondent\, covering the collapse of communism and the early warlord period in Afghanistan\, and later headed the Monitor’s Germany bureau\, where he reported on the EU and NATO’s post-Soviet evolution. After a year as a visiting scholar at Harvard’s Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies (1995–96)\, Burke joined the Open Society Institute in New York\, where he launched Eurasianet in 1999. He served as managing editor until late 2017 and now holds the role of publisher and executive director. In 2016\, Eurasianet became an independent organization hosted by Columbia University’s Harriman Institute\, and the site earned a Webby nomination the following year. Also in 2017\, Burke joined Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs as a lecturer focused on communications. He holds a BA in Soviet Studies from Boston University and has authored academic work on Russian internal migration and Ukrainian state-building.
URL:https://centralasiaprogram.org/event/central-asia-at-the-crossroads/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T123000
DTSTAMP:20260923T204320
CREATED:20241202T204327Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260123T191642Z
UID:1367954-1765278000-1765283400@centralasiaprogram.org
SUMMARY:Addressing Central Asia’s Water Crisis: Challenges and Pathways to Regional Cooperation
DESCRIPTION:Central Asia faces a critical challenge in managing its shared water resources\, with major rivers like the Amu Darya and Syr Darya crossing multiple national borders. As population growth\, urbanization\, and industrial expansion heighten the demand for water\, competition over limited resources intensifies\, especially in countries such as Uzbekistan\, Kazakhstan\, and Turkmenistan\, where agriculture heavily relies on irrigation. Climate change exacerbates these pressures\, underscoring the urgent need for regional cooperation and sustainable water management strategies.  \n\n\n\nThis panel discussion will explore the complexities of water resource management in Central Asia\, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and coordinated efforts to prevent conflicts and ensure equitable access. It will aim to identify both natural and human-induced factors driving water scarcity\, such as inefficient agricultural practices\, population growth\, and climate change. Panelists will evaluate current water management strategies across Central Asian countries and discuss potential long-term solutions that balance industrial needs\, environmental preservation\, and population demands. The discussion will seek to generate actionable recommendations and foster collaborative efforts toward sustainable water use and conservation in the region. \n\n\n\n\nRSVP\n\n\n\n\nSPEAKERS \n\n\n\nYerzhan Ashikbayev has been the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the United States since April 2021. He is a lead communicator on the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue with the United States. \n\n\n\nDr. Suriya Turaeva is an Associate Professor in the Department of International Economics at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Uzbekistan specializing in environmental protection and the rational use of natural resources and holds a PhD in chemistry. \n\n\n\nGulnara Baikushikova\, PhD\, is the Head of the Department of International Relations and World Economy at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. \n\n\n\nElira Turdubaeva has a PhD in media and communications. She is currently a Fulbright Scholar in the School of Communication at the University of Miami conducting research for the project\, “Social Media’s Role in Civic Engagement in Central Asia: Pilot Study of Kyrgyzstan.” \n\n\n\nMODERATOR: \n\n\n\nSebastien Peyrouse is Director of the Central Asia Program and Research Professor\, IERES\, The George Washington University. \n\n\n\n\nJOIN ZOOM SESSION
URL:https://centralasiaprogram.org/event/addressing-central-asias-water-crisis-challenges-and-pathways-to-regional-cooperation-2/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241203T131500
DTSTAMP:20260923T204320
CREATED:20241130T173757Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250127T185259Z
UID:1367950-1733227200-1733231700@centralasiaprogram.org
SUMMARY:Armenia and France: Strengthening Ties Amid Regional Tensions?
DESCRIPTION:Virtual Event \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAfter losing two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh\, Armenia is seeking new allies in Western Europe. Disillusionment with Moscow’s inaction during the 2023 blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh and recent conflicts has driven Armenia to reconsider its foreign alliances. Armenia’s growing partnership with France\, marked by French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné’s recent visit and enhanced military cooperation\, has sparked tensions with both Azerbaijan and Russia. Meanwhile\, questions arise over Azerbaijan’s strategic goals\, including its energy exports to Europe and its support for New Caledonia\, against the backdrop of Armenia’s Western pivot. \n\n\n\nThis seminar will address the pressing issues facing the South Caucasus\, Armenia\, and Azerbaijan today. Key questions include: Is France prepared to replace Russia as the peace guarantor for Armenia and Azerbaijan? What drives Azerbaijan’s support for the people of New Caledonia? How would Azerbaijan react if France supplied Armenia with modern weaponry and technology? What steps can France take to foster peace and stability in the region\, especially given the prevailing speculation that Russia is primarily interested in maintaining its military presence in the South Caucasus?” \n\n\n\n\nRSVP\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers: \n\n\n\nMarie Dumoulin is the director of the Wider Europe programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to joining ECFR\, she worked as a French career diplomat. She held a number of positions in French diplomatic missions abroad\, including in Turkmenistan\, Algeria\, and Germany\, and was seconded to the German Foreign Ministry during the German OSCE chairmanship. She has worked with the policy planning staff (CAPS) and headed the Russia and Eastern Europe Department of the French Foreign Ministry. She has extensive experience with settlement processes for protracted conflicts in Europe’s Eastern neighborhood. She holds a PhD from the Paris Institute for Political Science (Sciences Po). \n\n\n\nAhmad Alili is a researcher in international public policy and regional security of the South Caucasus\, the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries\, and neighboring regional powers. He is part of several peacebuilding initiatives supported by the EU\, UN\, and NATO’s Partnership for Peace Consortium. Currently\, he is the director of the Caucasus Policy Analysis Centre (CPAC)\, a Baku-based independent think tank promoting regional integration in the South Caucasus. He is also a lecturer at the Academy of Public Administration on the role of nonstate actors in regional security\, geopolitics\, public management\, and good governance. \n\n\n\nAlexander Iskandaryan is a prominent expert on politics\, nationalism\, and the contemporary history of Armenia\, the South Caucasus\, and Eurasia. He is a political scientist and the Director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan\, Armenia. He has authored numerous works on these topics\, presented papers\, and has spoken at many conferences. \n\n\n\nModerator: \n\n\n\nMikail Mamedov holds a PhD in History from Georgetown University\, where he is also a Lecturer in History and the Liberal Studies Program of the School of Continuing Studies. His multiethnic Azeri-Armenian family arrived in the US back in 1996\, in the wake of the outbreak of the Karabakh conflict. He holds an MA from The George Washington University and a Diploma in History from Moscow Lomonosov State University. He has authored numerous articles on the history of the Caucasus\, and on contemporary literature and the Karabakh conflict. \n\n\n\n\nZoom link
URL:https://centralasiaprogram.org/event/armenia-and-france-strengthening-ties-amid-regional-tensions/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241029T120000
DTSTAMP:20260923T204320
CREATED:20241021T161708Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241021T162616Z
UID:1366777-1730199600-1730203200@centralasiaprogram.org
SUMMARY:From Tradition to Digital: Exploring Media and Communication Dynamicsin Central Asia
DESCRIPTION:Location: Voesar Conference Room\, 1957 E St NW Washington DC\, 4th floor Suite 412 \n\n\n\nEvent type: Hybrid  \n\n\n\n\nRSVP\n\n\n\n\nThis seminar will explore insights from the edited volume Mapping the Media and Communication Landscape of Central Asia: An Anthology of Emerging and Contemporary Issues – 9781793633484 (rowman.com). It examines the evolving media environments of Central Asia\, focusing on the intersections of traditional and digital media within political\, social\, and cultural contexts. It brings together diverse perspectives from across the region to address contemporary challenges\, such as the role of media in political activism\, the influence of digital platforms on civic engagement\, and the transformation of communication practices amid globalization. \n\n\n\nElira Turdubaeva\, one of the volume’s editors and the featured speaker\, will share findings from the latest research\, including her own work on social media and civic engagement in Kyrgyzstan. She will highlight key themes from the volume and provide an in-depth look at the current media landscape in Central Asia. \n\n\n\n\nJoin Zoom\n\n\n\n\nSPEAKER \n\n\n\nDr. Elira Turdubaeva has a PhD degree in Media and Communications from Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University. She worked at several universities\, including a prior appointment as Department Head of Journalism and Mass Communications at American University of Central Asia. She is also a founder of a new start-up Online University in Kyrgyzstan and Association of Communicators of Kyrgyzstan. Currently she is a Head of Journalism and Mass Communications Program at International Ala-Too University in Kyrgyzstan. Her research focuses on media and AI\, media uses\, AI in education\, political participation and media\, election campaign analysis\, protests and social media\, social media uses\, network analysis\, new media studies\, ICT and youth\, propaganda analysis\, representations of gender\, journalism education\, media and migration\, media and activism\, surveillance technologies and privacy in Central Asia\, hate speech and social media\, media and conflicts in Central Asia\, etc. Currently she is a Fulbright Scholar at School of Communication at University of Miami conducting research on “Social Media’s Role in Civic Engagement in Central Asia: Pilot Study of Kyrgyzstan” \n\n\n\nMODERATOR \n\n\n\nSebastien Peyrouse is Director of the Central Asia Program and Research Professor\, IERES\, The George Washington University. His main areas of expertise are political systems in Central Asia\, economic and social issues\, Islam and religious minorities\, and Central Asia’s geopolitical positioning toward China\, India\, and South Asia.
URL:https://centralasiaprogram.org/event/from-tradition-to-digital-exploring-media-and-communication-dynamicsin-central-asia/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T130000
DTSTAMP:20260923T204320
CREATED:20241002T155852Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241014T204257Z
UID:1365451-1729857600-1729861200@centralasiaprogram.org
SUMMARY:Kazakh and Uzbek Biweekly Language Lunches
DESCRIPTION:If you’re looking to learn or improve your Kazakh or Uzbek language skills\, or simply want to learn more about Central Asian countries\, join us for casual biweekly lunches. These gatherings provide an opportunity to practice language skills and engage in conversations about the culture and heritage of Central Asia. \n\n\n\nLocation: Graduate Student Lounge\, 6th Floor\, 1957 E St.\, NW\, Washington\, DC \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRSVP
URL:https://centralasiaprogram.org/event/kazakh-and-uzbek-biweekly-language-lunches/
CATEGORIES:Upcoming Events
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