The monograph “Central Asia and European Union: In Search of Sustainability”, which was prepared and published as part of the scientific project of the UWED Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for European Studies, offers a detailed exploration of the intricate and evolving relationship between the European Union and the Central Asian republics covering a wide spectrum of topics, from regionalism, economic cooperation, and environmental challenges to the EU’s strategy towards Central Asia and its role in fostering regional resilience. It is an invaluable resource for researchers, policymakers, and students aiming to deepen their understanding of contemporary international relations and sustainable development across these regions.   The monograph features an essential contribution by Rustam Makhmudov, a Leading Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), who investigates the responses of Central Asian countries and the European Union to the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan. Mr. Makhmudov offers a nuanced analysis of the evolving diplomatic and security strategies, examining how regional and external players—such as the EU, the US, China, and Russia—are adjusting their approaches. His article highlights the geopolitical challenges posed by the Taliban’s return, especially concerning security, trade, and humanitarian concerns, making it a critical read for those interested in Central Asian geopolitics and international diplomacy post-2021.   Read and download the article below

Examining the challenges faced by international organizations in addressing the denial of women’s rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule and explores strategies to foster regional collaboration between Western countries and Afghanistan’s Central Asian neighbours, in their new research article Hamza Boltaev and Aziza Mukhammedova discuss contemporary challenges and propose a new vision of overcoming them.   Authors identified that the internal ideological splits within the Taliban also offer a glimmer of hope, as pragmatists within the movement recognize the need to address women’s rights within the framework of Sharia law. By involving the right actors and adopting a nuanced approach, there is a possibility of achieving tangible results in collaboration with the Taliban.   Read the article on the website of the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS, Pakistan)

As part of the United States Institute of Peace project "Tracking China's Global Security Initiative", a new research article of the Head of the IAIS China Programme Abbos Bobokhonov was published.   The article discusses China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) and its impact on Central Asia. The GSI, introduced by China, is seen as a strategic move to increase its influence in Central Asia, particularly as it seeks to balance against the presence of Russia and the West in the region. The initiative is part of China's broader efforts to shape security dynamics globally, with a focus on creating a multipolar world order, which could potentially tilt the regional balance of power, challenging the traditional influence of Russia and other powers in the area.   Read the article on the USIP website

On July 3, 2024, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy hosted the defense of a Master's thesis on The Influence of Ethnic Interest Groups on U.S. Foreign Policy by Fazliddin Djamalov, a Research Fellow at IAIS Center for American Studies. The thesis was supervised by Ulugbek Ishankhodjaev, Head of the Center for American Studies, and focuses on the study of ethnic interest groups and their lobbying in American foreign policy, as well as research on the role of Uzbek lobbies in shaping bilateral relations between the United States and Uzbekistan.   View presentation

Rustam Makhmudov, a Leading Research Fellow at the Centre for Anthropology and Conflict Studies of the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS), has published an article on “Central Asia facing the challenge of contemporary identity dynamics” in the Proceedings of the international conference “Identification in Central Asian countries: trajectories of development”, organised in December 2023 in Almaty by the Representative Office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in Central Asia.  The article discusses in detail the issue of the entry and functioning of various identity constructs formed in other cultural and civilisational spaces in the region. Identity is described by the author as a socio-economic institution, and the latest modern scientific-theoretical methods are applied to the analysis of its phenomenon.Download article

Significant changes in the international logistics system are fueling the development of trans-Afghan routes, but Uzbekistan may have to deal with increased competition. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has held several rounds of negotiations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on financing the construction of the $7 billion Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, which would link Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. The project is crucial for the states of Central Asia and Afghanistan in terms of providing access to the sea, as well as strengthening their transit potential and geopolitical role, but the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway has long been complicated by instability in Afghanistan During the Republic period a major threat to the project was the Taliban; now the current Taliban government in Afghanistan is ready to act as a guarantor of the route’s safety. Another remaining major hurdle is the question of investment. As such, Tashkent has called on the Gulf monarchies to cooperate. Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus have also expressed interest.Read the article