Recording | China’s Struggle for Influence in Central Asia
In this webinar Jardine Bradley & @edwardlemon.bsky.social of Oxus Society & Annette Bohr discuss China’s rise in Central Asia & implications for the region’s relations with other major global powers.
www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/r...
A cat in a hat
China's archaeological footprint across the Silk Road countries of Central Asia is increasingly significant. For @nbr.org's #Borderlands project, @edwardlemon.bsky.social and Bradley Jardine explain the political and narrative functions of such efforts.
strategicspace.nbr.org/digging-up-t...
My latest, based on my book Backlash.
As China's presence continues to expand, we can expect further security incidents, creating tensions with local governments, an expansion of Chinese security and private security presence and the rethinking of certain risky projects.
As we argue in our recent books Backlash, as China expands its footprint globally, it is facing localized resistance from protests to terrorist attacks, forcing it to enhance its security presence and get entangled in local politics.
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Over the past decade, China has spent millions on border posts, training programs and equipment for the Tajik security forces. It has even constructed a military facility near the Afghan and Chinese borders (pictured below from our fieldwork for our book Backlash)
China has long been concerned about spillovers of violence into Tajikistan, and potentially from there into China itself
The district where both incidents took place, Shamsiddin Shohin, has been a flashpoint of violence since the civil war in the 1990s
Multiple reports of cross border attack from Afghanistan into Tajikistan killing three Chinese workers. This is the second incident where Chinese workers on the border have been killed (the first being last November)
mfa.tj/en/washingto...
It does for me. Would you like the US or European edition?
Or Schipol, where it was in fact quicker (I think) for me to exit the secure area and go back through security rather than queue at the connections area during my transit last week.
Our book (with Bradley Jardine), Backlash, is now available in the United States. It examines China's rising role in Central Asia, how this has generated local backlash and how China is responding.
Use discount ADISTA5 for 30% off!
global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Our new book is on sale now!
DM me for a discount code
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
The Times They Are A-Changin
Central Asia's tallest Lenin statue taken down
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump partially restricts entry for Turkmen citizens due to high overstay rates.
Turkmen travels. May 2024.
My latest with Ruslan Norov on how Tajikistan shapes China's security assistance for China Local/Global @carnegieendowment.org carnegieendowment.org/posts/2025/0...
A thread on Trump’s latest unlawful executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (which oversees Voice of America and RFERL) and the Wilson Center, where I was a fellow across two programs for four years. 🧵
(Gift link 🎁)
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/15/u...
I was a fellow at the Wilson Center for over five years. They were partially responsible for bringing me to DC. It is a uniquely non-partisan space for research, networking and policy engagement. I hope it can find a way to survive.
The Act of Congress establishing the Wilson Center doesn’t have a provision saying the president can abolish it by EO: www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/...
In Central Asia, as governments have cracked down on media freedoms, RFERL has been at the forefront of independent reporting on the region. In my forthcoming book Backlash, we draw on 92 RFE reports. The book benefited massively from their critical work.
Parliamentary elections are being held in Tajikistan – without opposition, OSCE observers and independent media
rus.ozodi.org/a/v-tadzhiki...
Bradley Jardine and I submitted the revised manuscript to the publisher today. Backlash will be out in July. You can pre-order here:https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
Tajikistan remains the most remittance dependent country in the world. Kyrgyzstan’s dependency has gradually lessened, but still high
Apt to be reading this on the same day that John Wood arrived at Lake Zorkul, claiming it to be the source of the Amu Darya (Oxus) in 1838
Reviewer 2 for Backlash came back today with a constructive and positive review. The perfect birthday present!
Pre-order it here!
www.hurstpublishers.com/book/backlash/
It was a great discussion!
Whether this person ends up being linked to the attack or not, this will likely fuel more xenophobia in Russia