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Posts by Nargis Kassenova

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Plenary Session | REECAS Northwest | Lennon, Kassenova, Zając On April 17th, 2026 three experts delivered an excellent plenary session at the 32nd Annual REECAS Northwest Conference at the University of Washington, on current strategy around Ukraine, REECAS and

Another excellent session at REECAS NW Conference on Friday! Plenary speakers, Nargis Kassenova, @nargiskassenova.bsky.social, Olena Lennon, and Justyna Zając shared their expertise on Ukraine, REECAS and the European Union. Check out the podcast recording here! soundcloud.com/eueuropeuw/p...

4 days ago 5 3 0 0
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Kazakhstan: An Aspiring Middle Power in the Heart of Eurasia Kazakhstan is emerging as a pragmatic middle power, leveraging its strategic position at the crossroads of Eurasia and its vast reserves of energy and critical minerals to gain global relevance. Throu...

My report "Kazakhstan: An Aspiring Middle Power in the Heart of Eurasia", which is part of the Harvard Belfer Center Middle Powers Project, is out. Check it out! www.belfercenter.org/research-ana...

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Building a Secure Nuclear Future: US-Central Asia Partnership
Building a Secure Nuclear Future: US-Central Asia Partnership YouTube video by Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies

We've just had a great conversation on U.S.-Central Asia partnership in the spheres of nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear energy development with two extremely knowledgable experts, Amb. Laura S. H. Holgate and Aidar Tainov. You can watch it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K19F...

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Memoir: Remembering 9/11 Coalition and creation of Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan “Implementation is never easy.”

Our new essay is out! Amb. (ret.) John O'Keefe, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan in 2000-2003, shares his memories and insights about that most interesting period in American-Kyrgyz relations: eurasianet.org/memoir-remem...

3 weeks ago 0 0 0 1
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Fragmenting the Digital Silk Road: Agency and Modularity in Kazakhstan’s Telecom Sector A study of Kazakhstan’s telecom sector shows how China's seemingly unified strategy of building an alternative to U.S.-dominated internet infrastructure is appropriated by local actors and shaped by l...

We are going live in 30 min. Join us! daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/fragm...

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The Age of Academic Slop is Upon Us what happens when AI automates "normal science"?

I just finished a three-year term as an editor at an international relations journal. I began at the start of the LLM era but ended right in the middle of it. Our volume of submissions tripled and our desk reject rate rose to 75%. I have some thoughts.
open.substack.com/pub/hegemon/...

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Book cover for Marianne Kamp's "Collectivization Generation: Oral Histories of a Social Revolution in Uzbekistan." The cover features the title in white text, Kamp's name in yellow text, and a purple-to-red gradient from the upper right to the lower left. A block-printed design in the middle of the cover depicts a man wearing a do'ppi and chopon. He is kneeling in a field, next to an upright hoe, and planting a seedling.

Book cover for Marianne Kamp's "Collectivization Generation: Oral Histories of a Social Revolution in Uzbekistan." The cover features the title in white text, Kamp's name in yellow text, and a purple-to-red gradient from the upper right to the lower left. A block-printed design in the middle of the cover depicts a man wearing a do'ppi and chopon. He is kneeling in a field, next to an upright hoe, and planting a seedling.

Marianne Kamp was awarded a CESS Book Award for "Collectivization Generation: Oral Histories of a Social Revolution in Uzbekistan."

Dr. Kamp spoke about the recent book in an interview with Nicholas Seay, graduate student board member of CESS.

Read the piece here:
tinyurl.com/42u9zdf5

3 months ago 12 5 0 1
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Call for Papers: 2026 Grad Student Conference on Сentral Asia The main theme will be environment, society, and power in the region. Submissions are welcome from any discipline and any level of graduate study. Deadline to apply is Feb. 9.

We've just rolled out the CfP for our 4th Graduate Student Conference on Central Asia. The central theme is "Environment, Society, and Power in Central Asia" in honor of late Maya K. Peterson.
daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/insights/cal...

3 months ago 4 1 0 0
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Парламент Казахстана принял поправки о запрете «пропаганды ЛГБТ» - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть Тамара Вааль, Астана, Власть В четверг в ходе пленарного заседания сенат в двух чтениях одобрил закон «О внесении изменений и дополнений в некоторые законодательные акты Республики Казахстан по вопр...

Kazakhstan joins the ranks of countries that ban so-called LGBT "propaganda." The gov claims this law doesn't violate international treaties ratified by #Kazakhstan, but - make no mistake - it does.

vlast.kz/novosti/6765...

4 months ago 8 7 0 0
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We're excited to announce our Conference Plenary for REECAS NW 2026! The Plenary session, 'Ukraine, REECAS and the European Union' will feature speakers Nargis Kassenova (Harvard University) @nargiskassenova.bsky.social, Justyna Zając (Indiana University) & Olena Lennon (University of New Haven.)

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Self-advocacy skills are not lacking :) I notice that in my kids going to the American schools as well.

4 months ago 1 0 0 0
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The Armed Forces of Central Asia Join us for a panel that examines the military force structures, budgets, and doctrines of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Join us tomorrow (11 December, 9:30am-10:30am EST) for a presentation and discussion on the armed forces of Central Asia: daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/armed...

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In this piece I argue that the dramatic events of 2022 upended the status quo in Kazakhstan-Russia relations. Astana must now address both long-standing vulnerabilities and new pressures in areas such as inter-elite relations, nuclear energy, and history writing. cacianalyst.org/resources/25...

5 months ago 0 0 0 0
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Backlash: China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia In their new book Backlash: China's Struggle for Influence in Central Asia, Edward Lemon and Bradley Jardine show that China’s power projection is far from a one-way street—it is negotiated, resisted,...

In about an hour (9:30am EST), Bradley Jardine and Edward Lemon will present their new book "Backlash: China's Struggle for Influence in Central Asia." Join us! daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/backl...

5 months ago 3 1 0 0
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PANNIER: Few will mourn passing of Turkmen Iron Lady Atajanova and Uzbek Grey Cardinal Jurabekov Their deaths seem to have been conveniently overlooked by the authorities of today.

ICYMI: Their deaths seem to have been conveniently overlooked by the authorities of today. Bne IntelliNews

6 months ago 1 1 0 0
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Gazprom in Central Asia: Between Geopolitical Influence and Energy Transition YouTube video by Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies

We had an excellent discussion on Gazprom in Central Asia with Nicholas Pomeroy and Michael Hilliard. If you want to check it out, here's the link: www.youtube.com/live/iM_eJFP...

6 months ago 0 0 1 0

📣 Today (9:30am-10:30am EST) we will talk about Gazprom in Central Asia - join us!

6 months ago 0 1 0 0
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Gazprom in Central Asia: Between Geopolitical Influence and Energy Transition Join us for a panel on Gazprom’s shifting role in Central Asia, regional energy security, and the future of energy transition.

Join us (Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies) next Friday (3 Oct) for an online event on Gazprom in Central Asia. Our speakers are Nicholas Pomeroy and Michael Hilliard. daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/gazpr...

6 months ago 3 0 0 1
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Where Is Central Asia, Anyway? A former top U.S. diplomat reflects on the many ways ex-Soviet Central Asia can be viewed from Washington — Russian dependency, Chinese sphere of influence, new global hub with links in all directions...

Earlier this summer, former U.S. Ambassador Richard Boucher, passed away. He'll be remembered as an astute observer of Central Asia.
Back in 2021, Ambassador Boucher contributed a personal essay to the Davis Center/Eurasianet series. Pls give it a read: daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/insights/whe...

7 months ago 9 5 0 0
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Memoir: Recollecting the benefits of shoe leather diplomacy in Turkmenistan Getting out, getting a feel for the place, and putting pins on a map.

A new entry in the Ambassadors' Series on Central Asia, published by @eurasianet.bsky.social, spearheaded by @nargiskassenova.bsky.social of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies.

Allan Mustard on the use of shoe leather diplomacy in Turkmenistan.

eurasianet.org/memoir-recol...

11 months ago 8 2 0 0
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Memoir: Recollecting the benefits of shoe leather diplomacy in Turkmenistan Getting out, getting a feel for the place, and putting pins on a map.

So thrilled to share the new essay in our "American Diplomats in Central Asia" series developed in cooperation with @eurasianet.bsky.social - Amb. Allan Mustard's wonderful account of gathering firsthand information and mapping in Turkmenistan: eurasianet.org/memoir-recol...

11 months ago 1 1 0 0
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The Evolving Security Landscape of the Caspian Sea Region Join us to discuss the role of regional powers and the impact of energy resources on Caspian security with H.E. Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim.

Join our conversation with Azerbaijan's Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim on the evolving security landscape of the Caspian region, focusing on the transport and energy corridors (in 40 min): daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/evolv...

11 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Intercommunal Warfare and Ethnic Peacemaking in Central Asia Join us in discussing the core arguments of Intercommunal Warfare and Ethnic Peacemaking by Joldon Kutmanaliev.

We will be online in about two hours (9am EDT) - tune in! daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/inter...

1 year ago 2 0 0 0
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Global Socialist Cinema: Alliances, Affinities and Solidarities in the Global Cold War This talk focuses on the history of the 1960s-1980s Festival of Cinemas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, held in Soviet Tashkent — a unique historic cinematic formation irreducible to binaries of N...

daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/globa...

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Don't miss this exciting event tomorrow! Masha Salazkina will talk about her new book "Alliances, Affinities and Solidarities in the Global Cold War," focusing on the history of the Festival of Cinemas of Asia, Africa, and Latin America which took place in Tashkent, Soviet Union, in the 1960s-80s.

1 year ago 0 0 1 0
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Hard Power vs. Soft: China’s Evolving Role in Central Asia Is China imposing its will on the world, or is the reality more nuanced?  Many in the West, particularly in Washington, argue that China exerts global influence by disregarding local differences and i...

A fascinating webinar on China's role in Central Asia is just wrapping up. carnegieendowment.org/events/2025/... Asked about whether Chinese $ fuels corruption, @nargiskassenova.bsky.social states that Russians are bigger (but more hidden) driver. (And now Trump is removing limits on bribes, etc.)

1 year ago 2 1 1 0
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If you missed our conversation today about China's hard and soft power in Central Asia with @nargiskassenova.bsky.social, Berikbol Dukeyev & Odil Gafarov, you can watch the recording on @carnegieendowment.org YouTube: www.youtube.com/live/WJPe2xu...

1 year ago 6 1 0 0
Indulging Kleptocracy: Postcommunist Elites and Corruption
Indulging Kleptocracy: Postcommunist Elites and Corruption YouTube video by Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies

The first of our #IndulgingKleptocracy book talks @harvard.edu Davis Center with @nargiskassenova.bsky.social is recorded and online. Thanks Nargis and Harvard colleagues for your great questions.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2Ph...

1 year ago 4 2 0 1
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Film Screening: 'JARA — Radioactive Patriarchy: Women of Qazaqstan' This film sheds light on the stories of six women from a nuclear-affected community in Kazakhstan. It explores topics such as technology-driven and state-sponsored gender-based violence, as well as th...

March 13, in person, Cambridge, MA. Thank you for this important contribution, @hellogera.bsky.social!:
daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/film-...

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Making the Two Ends of Eurasia Meet: Prospects of the Middle Corridor in the Trump Era
Making the Two Ends of Eurasia Meet: Prospects of the Middle Corridor in the Trump Era YouTube video by Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies

If you couldn't tune in yesterday, here's the recording. We had an excellent panel (Samuel Dover Vesterbye, @tumarov.bsky.social and Yunis Sharifli) to discuss the Middle Corridor initiative in the rapidly changing geopolitical context. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJuB...

1 year ago 6 2 0 0