From June 16–19, 2026
From June 16–19, 2026, the regional conference of the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) was held at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan. The conference was opened by CESS President, Associate Professor, and Vice Dean for Research Dina Sharipova, along with Professor of the Graduate School of Public Policy at Nazarbayev University, Riccardo Pelizzo.
The keynote lecture, titled “Quiet Power, Strategic Silence, Decolonial Diplomacy, and Transformative Resilience in Central Asia” was delivered by Dr. Timur Dadabaev. Dr. Dadabaev serves as Professor of International Relations and Director of the Special Program for Japanese and Eurasian Studies at University of Tsukuba. He is also a Visiting Professor under the Swedish Research Council at Lund University, as well as Professor of International Relations and Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
Throughout the conference, attendees enjoyed a book exhibition and the Living Cultural Heritage Exhibition, curated by Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at Nazarbayev University, Snezhana Atanova. Some of the exhibits came from her personal collection.
The evening banquet featured a musical concert with performances by Dr. Merey Otan (Eurasian Studies, Nazarbayev University) and the Nazarbayev University Orchestra.
Around 400 participants from different countries attended the conference. More than 100 panels, roundtables, and book presentations were held. We thank the organizers for the excellent arrangement of the conference and the participants for their insightful presentations.
The conference was attended by researchers from the Institute: Botagoz Rakisheva – Director; Kalamkas Yesimova – Chief Researcher; Aruzhan Komirtaу – Junior Researcher; and Eliott Barrois – Research Intern at the Institute and Master’s student at the Graduate School of Social Sciences (France).
PANEL SESSION: «KAZAKH/KAZAKHSTANI DIASPORA: ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, IDENTITY, AND NEW TRENDS»
As part of the conference, the Research Institute Public Opinion organized a panel titled: «Кazakh/Кazakhstani diaspora: adaptation strategies, identity, and new trends». Among the panel participants was renowned researcher of the Kazakh diaspora, Professor Peter Finke (Switzerland).
Moderator: Botagoz Rakisheva, Research Institute Public Opinion (Astana, Kazakhstan)
Discussant: Sanchel Kim, Institute of Central Asian Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Seoul, South Korea).
Panel Speakers:
Gulnash Askhat and Lyazzat Aitimbet (Turan University). Presentation: The Kazakh Diaspora in the United States: Risks of Losing National Identity,
Anar Somonzhoglu (Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey). Presentation: Turkish Diaspora Policy and Kazakhs in Europe,
Kalamkas Yesimova (Astana IT University, Public Opinion Research Institute), Ainur Ibraeva, and Aruzhan Komirtaу (Public Opinion Research Institute). Presentation: New Trends in the Formation of the Kazakh/Kazakhstani Diaspora
Beibitgul Khaumen (Mongolia). Presentation: Being Kazakh in Mongolia: Everyday Nationalism and the Politics of Belonging.
PANEL: «THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF CONTEMPORARY SOFT POWER OF CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES»
Botagoz Rakisheva participated as a discussant in the panel «The Formation and Development of Contemporary Soft Power of Central Asian Countries», organized by the Institute of Central Asian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (Seoul, South Korea).
The panel was moderated by Professor Sangcheol Kim (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)..
Panel Speakers:
Sangcheol Kim (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies). Presentation: «The Central Asian Model of Soft-power cooperations with ODA/AID Sectors: Comparison to the Soft Power cooperation Patterns of The Republic of Korea»
Aigerim Bakhtiyarova (Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan). Presentation: «Comparative studies of Asian model of soft power: the cases of Kazakhstan and Singapore”
Yelaman Muzappar (Eurasian National University). Presentation: «Institutionalizing Soft Power in Kazakhstan: Strategy, Policy Framework, and Cultural Case Studies»
Nathalie Marver-Kwon (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies). Presentation: «The Transnational Soft Power of Koryo Churches»
PANEL: «ETHNIC (OUT)MIGRATION AND CO-ETHNIC INTERACTION IN CENTRAL EURASIA: DYNAMICS, POLICIES AND IDENTITY DILEMMAS»
Kalamkas Yesimova, Chief Researcher at the Research Institute Public Opinion, served as the moderator of the panel «Ethnic (Out)Migration and Co-Ethnic Interaction in Central Eurasia: Dynamics, Policies and Identity Dilemmas», organized by Natalya Kosmarskaya (Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences) and Gulnara Dadabayeva (KIMEP University).
The panel discussant was Bakhytzhan Kurmanov (University of Central Asia).
Panel Speakers:
Yulia Tsyryapkina (Altai State Pedagogical University). Presentation: «Identity and Adaptation Strategies of Russians from Uzbekistan in the Siberian Federal District»
Natalya Kosmarskaya (Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences). Presentation: «Armenians in Russia: Collisions and Dynamics of Co-Ethnic Interaction»,
Isik Kuscu-Bonnenfant (Middle East Technical University). Presentation: «The Long Way Home: Three Decades of Ethnic Kazakh Repatriation – Institutional and Legal Evolution».
PANEL: «MULTIPLE IDENTITY AND SOCIAL CONSENSUS: SOCIAL DISTANCE AND ACCORD IN CENTRAL EURASIA»
The Institute’s staff participated in the panel «Multiple Identity and Social Consensus: Social Distance and Accord in Central Eurasia», organized by the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies.
Moderator: Aigul Sadvokassova (Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies)
Discussant: Aziz Burkhanov (Nazarbayev University)
Speakers:
Sholpan Jamanbalayeva (Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies). Presentation: «Multiple identity and the boundaries of trust in Kazakhstan»
Natalya Seitakhmetova (Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies). Presentation: «The Islamic discourse of multiple identities in digital reality: epistemological and ethical problems»
Kuanysh Sailau (Institute of Philsopshy, Political Science and Religious Studies)
During the Central Eurasian Studies Society conference, the book «1916. Esimde» was presented. The publication was released one month ago by the Esimde Research Platform.
Elmira Abylbek gave a presentation and joined the discussion on “Memory: Practices and Comparative Approaches to Post-Trauma”.
As part of the conference, the book «Traditions and Values of Kazakhs in the 21st Century» was presented. The book was edited by Alima Bissenova, PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology at Nazarbayev University.
The second day of the conference concluded with a networking dinner organized by the Institute of Central Asian Studies at Hankuk University at a Korean restaurant.
