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).

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.
More details: https://opinions.kz/ru/merop/the-central-eurasian-studies-society