Three Reasons Why the EU Matters to Central Asia
The European Union (EU) can play a positive role in Central Asia by offering an alternative to Russia and China; helping countries build their societies and diversify their economies; and…
Morgan Liu: On “Uzbekness” and Social Justice
Morgan Y. Liu is a cultural anthropologist studying Muslims in the former Soviet Union, Islamic ideas of social justice, and the impact of oil extraction on Central Asian societies. He…
“Azan on the Moon”: Anthropology of Infrastructure
Till Mostowlansky is intrigued by the anthropological study of routes, roads and pathways, and the anthropology of infrastructure more generally. This research interest frames his latest monograph, Azan on the Moon: Entangling…
The Rise of the Islamic Middle Class and Entrepreneurs in Central Asia
After nearly three decades of deep economic transformations in Central Asia, we are now witnessing the rise to power of a transnational Islam adapted to the rationale of the market…
Feminism through Pictures: How Girls of South Kyrgyzstan Fight for Women’s Rights
Since 2014, a small feminist group called “New Rhythm” has been operating in Osh. Young activists raise the issues of women’s rights and gender inequality in the southern regions of…
Iconic Places in Central Asia. The Moral Geography of Dams, Pastures and Holy Sites explained by Jeanne Féaux de la Croix
Interview Dr. Jeanne Féaux de la Croix Dr. Jeanne Féaux de la Croix is a social anthropologist at the University of Tübingen in Germany. She specializes in environmental issues and…
Dushanbe Buses and What It Means to Live in a Capital City
Author Karolina Kluczewska Karolina Kluczewska is a Maria Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellow and a PhD student at the University of St.Andrews, Scotland. She is writing about development aid in Tajikistan, looking…
Kazakhstan’s New Latin Alphabet Project Spurs Discussions Online
Debates over the new Kazakh Latin alphabet have united Kazakh- and Russian-speaking communities, both of which have taken to the web to criticize what they consider an inappropriate alphabet. In…
China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its Impact in Central Asia
The NAC-NU Central Asia Studies Program, in partnership with GW’s Central Asia Program, has published a book on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and its impact in Central Asia.…
An Insight Into Soviet Archives on Islam
Russian Perspectives on Islam (islamperspectives.org) is a unique collection of materials that documents the encounter and evolving relationship between the Orthodox/secular state and the Islamic regions, groups, individuals, and ideologies…
Discussing Women’s Religiosity and Religious Observance with Dr. Rano Turaeva
In Central Asia, women’s religiosity is judged mostly on their appearance. But it’s not that simple, argues Dr. Rano Turaeva About Rano Turaeva Dr. Rano Turaeva is an associated researcher…
Street Art as a Public Forum in Kazakhstan: Pasha Cas
If freedom of expression is a necessary component for public debates to occur and for a public sphere to function, how does the public sphere operate in societies with restricted…