The course explores the rich and complex region of Central Asia, and the five republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Students will engage with the region’s imperial past, Soviet legacy, and the ongoing processes of nation-building, identity formation, economic transition and growing geopolitical importance. Drawing on scholarship from both Western and Central Asian sources, the course critically analyzes themes such as ethnicity, gender, migration, political systems, security, and the environment.
Designed with a comparative and interdisciplinary lens, the course enables students to understand Central Asia as more than a periphery—highlighting its agency in international politics and its potential for transformation. Participants will analyze the competing influences of Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union, while also considering how Central Asian states navigate sovereignty through multi-vector diplomacy. Interactive methodologies and assignments encourage critical thinking, teamwork, and the inclusion of non-Western voices. The course culminates in a final in-class exam that synthesizes key concepts and debates.