Humans of the Polygon: Travel Notes from the Land of Abai. Karaul, Znamenka (Kokentau), Sarzhal
“We are scared for the future of our kids.”A family in KaraulThe lake created in 1963 on the Polygon as a result of an explosion that used 20 tons of…
A “Golden Age” No More? What 2019 Will Bring for Turkmenistan
The name of the official news site of the government of Turkmenistan expresses what might be the closest thing to the sealed-off state’s official ideology: Zolotoi Vek, or Golden Age.…
Dragon’s Tender Hug: Prosperity Discourse and China’s Soft Power in Kazakhstan
Daniyar Kosnazarov Daniyar Kosnazarov is a visiting fellow at The George Washington University. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Steppe, an independent digital media outlet in Kazakhstan. He has experience…
Muslim China and “de-extremification” campaign: Interview with Darren Byler, Living Otherwise
Thousands of Uyghurs, as well as representatives of other Muslim nations living in China’s Xinjiang province, have faced religious restrictions and persecution by the authorities in recent years. Oppression has…
Almaty Youth on the Future of the Kazakh Alphabet
Over breakfast in my apartment in Almaty, some friends and I were discussing the news. After covering everything from state visits to trade deals, I cautiously brought up the new…
Uzbekistan’s Newfound Foreign Policy and its Implications for U.S.-Uzbekistan Relations
On May 22, 2018, the George Washington University’s Central Asia Program hosted a discussion of the outcomes of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s recent visit to the United States and Uzbekistan’s…
Russia, China, and the US in Central Asia’s Regional Environment
The Eurasian landmass is increasingly engaged in a range of ambitious regional economic projects, with the common goal of enhancing trade and growth but displaying competing geopolitical visions. Alexander Cooley, Jeff…
2018: What is Stirring in Central Asia?
Marlene Laruelle Director, Central Asia Program, Associate Director and Research Professor, IERES, George Washington University “The year 2017 has been an eventful one for Central Asia, mostly thanks to Uzbekistan’s…