Central Asia's Economic Dependence on Russia
May 03 - 15:00 to 16:30 (GMT +1)
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, new attention is being paid to the role of Russian state media in advancing narratives about the war and its impacts. These narratives have a special significance for those countries that may be exposed to Russia’s economic downturn under sanctions, including the countries of Central Asia. Economic sentiments in Central Asia are shaped in part by narratives advanced by Russian state media, which have used their influence among audiences in the region to build support for Russia-oriented economic policymaking and regional economic projects such as the Eurasian Economic Union.
Now, as the Russian economy enters a crisis, this same influence may be used to undermine moves by Central Asian governments to reduce their exposure to the Russian economy. This webinar explored the role that Russian media narratives play in the formation of economic sentiments and economic policy in Central Asia, tracing how the public perceptions of Central Asian dependence on Russia can act as a self-fulfilling prophecy, closing the political space for more comprehensive rethinking about how Central Asian states position themselves in the global economy.
Panelists
Hannah Chapman is the Karen and Adeed Dawisha Assistant Professor of Political Science at Miami University and Faculty Associate at the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies.
Nozima Davletova is Director of the Foundation for Support and Development of National Mass Media and an Adjunct Professor at Webster University Tashkent. She was formerly a research fellow at George Washington University.
Daniyar Kosnazarov is an experienced journalist and editor based in Kazakhstan. He was formerly Chief Editor of The Steppe and a former Visiting Researcher at the George Washington University’s Central Asia Program.
Anton Shirikov is a PhD Candidate in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Anton studies propaganda and misinformation in Russia and other countries. Previously, he worked as a journalist and editor in various Russian independent media.
Temur Umarov is a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A native of Uzbekistan, Temur Umarov is an alumnus of the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center’s Young Ambassadors and the Carnegie Endowment’s Central Asian Futures programs.
Moderator - Khasan Redjaboev is a Visiting Fellow at the Bourse & Bazaar Foundation. He is a PhD Candidate in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
