Majlis

Dec 08 2024 50 ep. 47 mins 2.1k

Majlis Podcast artwork

In this biweekly podcast, host Bruce Pannier welcomes expert guests to discuss significant political developments and pressing social issues affecting the nations of Central Asia.

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Violence Against Women Increasing in Central Asia

Dec 08 2024 55 mins

This year’s edition of the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign got under way on November 25. While Central Asian authorities acknowledge that gender-based violence (GBV) has been a problem for years, a trio of studies on gender-related killings about to be published by UN Women Europe and Central Asia is expected to show the problem is getting

What Do Central Asians Think About China?

Nov 24 2024 52 mins

China’s presence in Central Asia has been growing for 30 years. China is now a leading trade and security partner, foreign investor, and source of everyday goods available in markets and bazaars across Central Asia. The Central Asia Barometer recently released the results of a survey conducted over the course of several years that analyzes the opinions of Central Asian citizens t

No Safe Haven In Europe For Central Asian Opposition

Nov 10 2024 51 mins

Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev arrived in Tajikistan on November 7, after he was deported from Germany, where he had been seeking asylum since 2011. Ergashev was immediately arrested on his return by Tajik authorities; he hasn't been heard from since. Ergashev is one of several Central Asian opposition activists sent back to their homelands; dozens more continue to pur

Diving Deep Into Tajikistan's Armed Forces

Oct 27 2024 43 mins

The Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs just released a detailed report on military and security forces in Tajikistan. The comprehensive work examines the 30-year history of the Tajik defense forces, their mission and composition, how they are deployed, and the role of foreign countries in training and equipping Tajik forces. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss the report are

Central Asia Pushes Back On Russian Critiques

Oct 13 2024 45 mins

Russian officials and celebrities have become increasingly critical of the countries and peoples of Central Asia since the Kremlin launched its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022 -- and patience is wearing thin in the region. Central Asians are pushing back against Russian lecturing, racist comments, and mistreatment of migrant laborers. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discus

Kazakhstan’s Controversial Nuclear Power Vote

Sep 29 2024 52 mins

Kazakhs will vote on October 6 in a national referendum to authorize construction of a nuclear power plant. In recent winters, Kazakhstan has experienced severe power shortages, and Kazakh officials assert that nuclear power could help fill the gap. People remember, however, that 456 nuclear weapons were detonated in northeastern Kazakhstan between 1949 and 1989 as part of the Sovi

Russia’s Power Play In Central Asia

Sep 15 2024 47 mins

Russia’s longtime influence in Central Asia seemed to fade after the launch of its full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022, as other countries pursued stronger relations with Central Asian states and active roles in lucrative projects. The Kremlin noticed and has countered with its own initiatives, of which the most binding may be a series of recent agreements that will increa

The Racialization Of Central Asians In Russia

Sep 01 2024 56 mins

Racialization is the process of viewing a specific people with preconceived notions about them. In Russia, non-Russians -- particularly people from Asia or the South Caucasus -- have long been targets of racialization. The problem is especially acute in today’s Russia, where many Russians openly express negative or derogatory views of these peoples, making life extremely difficul

Decolonizing Central Asia

Aug 18 2024 50 mins

Russia’s historical legacy in Central Asia has come under increased scrutiny in the region since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine. Many Russians, including officials, claim -- in some cases insist -- that Russia’s colonization of Central Asia was beneficial to the region. A growing number of people in Central Asia are coming to a different conclusion, as they reass

Legislating Fashion In Central Asia

Aug 04 2024 37 mins

In late June, Tajikistan passed a law on "alien clothing" that bans certain types of Islamic attire, particularly from Arab countries, and some types of Western clothing. Wardrobe violators run the risk of stiff financial penalties. Similar fashion mandates exist throughout Central Asia, focused more on women than men. Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss clothing rules in Central