Geopolitical shifts in Central Asia’s relationship with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine
When: Monday, March 10, 2025, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Where: Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS
Centre for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (CEREES) public lecture by Dr Bhavna Dave (SOAS University of London)
About the Lecture
Each major geopolitical event or crisis in the Eurasian region has animated discussions on whether the Central Eurasian region will overcome its condition as a periphery, cease being the ‘near abroad’ of the metropole or become further entrenched within the authoritarian regional institutional framework under Sino-Russian partnership. The protracted nature of Russia’s war on Ukraine has once again brought these questions to the fore. This lecture considers how Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan – the two largest states and emerging regional actors in Central Asia (Kazakhstan has been bestowed the status of a ‘middle power’) are signalling their autonomy and agency by advancing their visions of regional cooperation, infrastructural and trade connectivity, and balancing their memberships of multilateral organisations headed by Russia, China and Turkey (Eurasian Economic Union, EAEU; Collective Security Treaty Organization, CSTO; Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO; Organization of Turkic States, OTS).
About the Speaker
Dr Bhavna Dave is Senior Lecturer in Politics of Central Asia at SOAS. Her research focuses on geopolitics of the Eurasian region, ethnic and language policies, and state-society relations across Central Asia and labour migration in Eurasia. She is interested in the current reconfiguration of relations between Russia and states in the Eurasian region. She has published works on labour migration in Kazakhstan and Russia, language and ethnic identities, minorities, elections and patronage in Kazakhstan, EU-Central Asia relations, the role of the Russian Far East in Russia’s ‘pivot to Asia’ policy, social and security implications of China’s Belt and Road initiative in Central Asia, and India-Central Asia relations.
Venue
Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road London E1 4NS. The precise location of this panel will be circulated to all registered ticket holders. For Mile End Campus, please see the QMUL Campus Map.
About the Event
The lecture is free and all are welcome but please register on Eventbrite.
It is organised by the Centre for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (CEREES) and the School of History.