The Unique Role of the American University of Central Asia
The American University of Central Asia and the George Washington University's Central Asia Program would like you to invite you to join us on March 12, 2014. After the American and NATO pullout from Afghanistan, AUCA will be one of the few remaining sustainable institutions in CentralAsia promoting free and critical thought. The purpose of the event is… Continue reading The Unique Role of the American University of Central Asia
Bottom-up Secularism in the Top-down States of Eurasia
with John Schoeberlein, Nazarbayev University The resurgence of religion in the post-Soviet space has been accompanied by heightened appeals to secularism as a social and political order. Most research on secularism in Eurasian contexts --and indeed, in general -- has focused on the top-down institutional construction of the secular order. Furthermore, scholarship on post-Soviet societies tends often to present social construction… Continue reading Bottom-up Secularism in the Top-down States of Eurasia
Cinema Club Film Screening: The Orator
Directed by Yusuf Razykov (Uzbekistan, 1999)A historical drama. The meetings and marches of the Red Revolution change the life of the poor Iskander. Because he knows Russian, he becomes an interpreter for the new government at first, and then an active orator popularizing the new regime. His fame and popularity grow and he enjoys being in… Continue reading Cinema Club Film Screening: The Orator
International Water Day
With Marlene Laruelle, Central Asia Program, George Washington University Julia Collins, Women and Water Project Marcus King, George Washington University Barbara Miller, Global Gender Program, George Washington University Amanda Klasing, Human Rights Watch Rebecca Fishman, WASH Advocates Kara Gerson, Voss Foundation In 1993, the United Nations declared March 22nd as the official “World Day for… Continue reading International Water Day
Are US strategic interests in Azerbaijan at risk?
with Dr. Farhad Aliyev, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute The current US policy of disengagement from Southern Eurasia may have a negative impact upon the US strategic interests in the region in the long-run, with Azerbaijan becoming more vulnerable to falling under Russia’s influence and having to manage a difficult relationship to Iran. Moreover, domestic evolutions are on their way: roll back in democratization… Continue reading Are US strategic interests in Azerbaijan at risk?
Diversified Development: Making the Most of Natural Resources in Eurasia
with, Ivailo Izvorski, The World Bank Economic development discussions in Eurasia often become debates about diversification. For aregion that is resource-rich, this is to be expected. Eurasian economies have in many ways become less diversified during the last two decades. At the same time, people are much better off today thanthey were in the 1990s: poverty has been cut… Continue reading Diversified Development: Making the Most of Natural Resources in Eurasia
Security Challenges and Scenarios for Central Asia
with Erlan Karin, Visiting Professor, American University Erlan Karin will discuss the diverse security challenges, both external and internal, that the Central Asian countries currently face. He will explore the presidential successions, possible scenarios, and present four different prospects for Central Asia, its stability and its interaction within the wider region.Dr. Erlan Karin leads the Council of Direction for the… Continue reading Security Challenges and Scenarios for Central Asia
Youth in Kazakhstan: Societal Changes, Challenges and Opportunities
9:00am Registration and Breakfast 9:15am Opening Peter Rollberg, Director, IERES, The George Washington University Ambassador Kairat Umarov, Kazakhstan Embassy in the United States 9:30‐10:00am Keynote speaker Ambassador Richard Hoagland, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, US Department of State 10:00‐11:45am Session 1: Youth Identities. National Trends and the Globalization Process Chair: Marlene Laruelle, The George Washington University Douglas Blum, Providence University… Continue reading Youth in Kazakhstan: Societal Changes, Challenges and Opportunities
Turkmenistan: Evolutions and Permanence
with Luca Anceschi, University of Glasgow Myles Smyth, IREX Sebastien Peyrouse, The George Washington University This roundtable explores the evolution of Berdymukhamedov's Turkmenistan. The second president reoriented few aspects of the country's previous policy, and the long-awaited shifts in domestic and foreign policy have remained limited.Today, Turkmenistan faces steep challenges, among them rebuilding the education and health systems, and managing public expectations of… Continue reading Turkmenistan: Evolutions and Permanence
Cinema Club Film Screening: Tulpan
Directed by Sergei Dvortsovoi (Kazakhstan, 2009)On the steppes of Kazakhstan, Asa lives in a yurt with his sister Samal, her husband Ondas, and their three children. Ondas is a herdsman, tough and strong. It's dry, dusty, and windy; too many lambs are stillborn. Against this backdrop, Asa, a dreamer who's slight of build and recently… Continue reading Cinema Club Film Screening: Tulpan
Post-2014 Afghanistan: The US Military Exit and Political Stability
With Dr. Timor Sharan This talk will provide an Afghan perspective of what U.S. military withdrawal will mean for political stability and state survival post-2014. The 2001 international intervention, created a ‘network state’ whereby state and political networks became partners in state building. This has produced a state that is underpinned by informal power structures. A successful international military exit from… Continue reading Post-2014 Afghanistan: The US Military Exit and Political Stability
Revolution and Art in the Kyrgyz Republic
with Sally Cummings, St. Andrews University Professor Sally Nikoline Cummings teaches in the School of InternationalRelations, University of St Andrews. Her more recent publications includeUnderstanding Central Asia (2012), Sovereignty after Empire: Comparing theMiddle East and Central Asia (co-ed, 2012) and Symbolism and Power in CentralAsia: Politics of the Spectacular (ed. 2010). In late 2009 she commissioned two prominent Kyrgyz artists to develop… Continue reading Revolution and Art in the Kyrgyz Republic
Cinema Club Film Screening: The Light Thief
Directed by Aktan Arym Kubat (Kyrgyzstan, 2010)The main hero of the film is an electrician with a far greater effect on the people around him than his job defines. He is the last link in a huge energetic system and he becomes the binding bridge between the geopolitical problems of post-soviet space and the common… Continue reading Cinema Club Film Screening: The Light Thief
Social Media and the Online Debate in Central Asia
with Navbahor Imamova, Voice of America The emergence of the Internet and the growing participation of people, especially youth, in social media constitute positive change for Central Asia. Uzbekistan as well as the other four countries in the region - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan – has become more connected to the world than ever before. Despite wide-ranging political restrictions and bans, the… Continue reading Social Media and the Online Debate in Central Asia
Myth and Rhetoric of the Turkish Model: Changing notions of marginality in Turkey
with Anita Sengupta, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, India The Turkish Model or the Turkish Developmental Alternative was promoted in the Central Asian Republics immediately following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Model emphasised the ideal of a ''secular, democratic, liberal society''as a model for the post- Soviet Turkic world and in the process encouraged a''Turkic"… Continue reading Myth and Rhetoric of the Turkish Model: Changing notions of marginality in Turkey
Kazakhstan Beyond Economic Success – Exploring Social and Cultural Changes in Eurasia
Organized by The George Washington University’s Central Asia Program (CAP) and the Uppsala Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies (UCRS) Funded by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (RJ) Uppsala University, Sweden June 13-14, 2014 Kazakhstan Beyond Economic Success - Exploring Social and Cultural Changes in Eurasia
The Third Central Asia Fellowship Seminar
Reassessing the Water/Energy Nexus in Central AsiaThe Third Central Asia Fellowship Seminar June 24, 2014, 4:30-7pm Lindner Commons, 6th Floor George Washington University 1957 E Street, NW, Washington DC The Central Asia Program and SIPRI North America have the pleasure to invite you to the Third Central Asia Fellowship Seminar. 4:30 pm. Welcome - Chantal de… Continue reading The Third Central Asia Fellowship Seminar
Politics, Religion, and Conflict Online in Central Asia
Noah Tucker (Registan.net, and CAP associate)Sarah Kendzior (Al Jazeera and CAP associate) Courtney Ranson (Media research consultant) The Internet and social media are slowly beginning to revolutionize the Islamic marketplace of ideas for Central Asians. Similar to processes identified by scholars like Peter Mandaville in other contexts, Central Asia’s access to digital Islam has been delayed by… Continue reading Politics, Religion, and Conflict Online in Central Asia
Old’ and ‘New’ Political Islam
with Emmanuel Karagiannis, King's College, LondonDr. Emmanuel Karagiannis is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Defence Studies, King’s College London. He was educated in Great Britain (London South Bank University, Reading University, Hull University) and the United States (University of Pennsylvania). He has travelled extensively throughout the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East… Continue reading Old’ and ‘New’ Political Islam
Cinema Club Film Screening: Warriors of the Steppe
Directed by Akan Sataev (Kazakhstan, 2012) A universal story about the freedom of the human spirit and the struggle against slavery and despotism, about love, loss and betrayal. It is seen through the eyes of simple Kazakh kids and teenagers.
Regulating Religion in Central Asia
A Roundtable Discussion with Catherine Cosman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Dillorom Abdulloeva, Human Rights Lawyer and Co-Founder and President of Tashabbus Mirakmal Niyazmatov, Lawyer and Co-Founder of Tashabbus Central Asian governments have incorporated their majority religions in efforts to define post-Soviet national identities. At the same time, however, they want to control growing levels of religious… Continue reading Regulating Religion in Central Asia
First International Conference on Uyghur Studies – History, Culture, and Society
The Uyghurs are one of the ten most populous stateless nations in the world. While they have a long history of cultural accomplishments and political influences, they have remained marginal in international scholarship given their ambiguous position both in regional studies and in geopolitics. Nonetheless, given their contribution to global and regional historical and cultural… Continue reading First International Conference on Uyghur Studies – History, Culture, and Society
The Transition Economies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan: Old Habits, New Approaches
with Farrukh Irnazarov, Visiting Research Associate, Johns Hopkins University and Roman Vakulchuk, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Oslo, Norway This presentation assesses the market transition path of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by studying state–business interactions in two countries. It evaluates the role of the state and private economic actors in shaping the… Continue reading The Transition Economies of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan: Old Habits, New Approaches
