REAS, CCE, and IILE Presents

Central Asia at the Crossroads: Governance, Innovation, and Identity in Transition
CONFERENCE

This conference brings together faculty, scholars, and administrators from the American University of Central Asia and Bard College (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY). As long-standing partners, Bard and AUCA have impacted the education and professional development of thousands of young people, responding to and contributing to the political, economic, and socio-cultural changes in the region. We will discuss the achievements and goals of the partnership, as well as issues of legal frameworks, cultural identity, and evolving geopolitical alignments that shape the future of Central Asia's regional stability and global influence. Over the course of a day, scholars will engage in dialogue about political participation and economic opportunity in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia; the region's culture as it evolves in response to shifting geopolitical alignments; and the region's educational visions, ambitions, and hopes.

10.00 – 10.30  Opening remarks
      
10.30 – 12.00  Panel 1   LAW & SECURITY      
Moderated by Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University              

Kamila Mateeva, Head of Law Division; Associate Professor of Law, AUCA
“Evolving Legal Frameworks in Central Asia: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities”

Saniia Toktogazieva, Dean of Academic Planning and Strategic Partnerships; Associate Professor of Law, AUCA
“Constitutionalism in Central Asia: Challenges and current trends”

Togzhan Kassenova (Senior Fellow, Project on International Security, Commerce and Economic Statecraft at the University of Albany)
“Kazakhstan’s Nuclear Story: Reclaiming the Agency and National Identity Building”

1.30 – 3.15  Panel 2  ECONOMICS  & THE ENVIRONMENT       
Moderated by Eban Goodstein, Bard College      
           
Zarylbek Kudabaev, Head of the Applied Sciences Division; Professor of Economics, AUCA
“Economic Transformations in Central Asia: Current Trends, Challenges, and Future Prospects”

Urmat Ryskulov, Chair of the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Administration; Associate Professor of Business and Finance, AUCA
“Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Central Asia: Catalysts for Sustainable Development”

Aniruddha Mitra, Bard College (co-authors: James T. Bang, St. Ambrose University, Nurgul Ukueva, Associate Professor, Economics Department, American University of Central Asia, Visiting Associate Professor, Bard College)
“Trust, Risk, and Attitudes toward Climate Change, Evidence from Kyrgyzstan”

Aisalkyn Botoeva, Co-Founder and Principal Researcher of Altai Atlantic research company
“The Power of Narrative: Rethinking How We Share Knowledge about the Region.”

3.30 – 5.15  Panel 3  CULTURE & IDENTITY           
Moderated by Elena Kim, Bard College        

Ruslan Rahimov, Head of the Division of Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Anthropology and International Development, AUCA
“Reclaiming Identity: Decolonization Narratives and Cultural Reawakening in Central Asia”

Daniyar Karabaev, Head of the Division of Arts, Humanities and Communication; Assistant Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences, AUCA
“Memory Politics: The Role of Oral History in Central Asia”

Marek Eby, Visiting Scholar, Columbia University Harriman Institute
“Narratives of Soviet Kyrgyzstan through the Lens of Health: The Case of Malaria”

Jarkyn Shadymanova, Associate Professor, Sociology Department, AUCA, M.Ed. Candidate in Environmental Education, Bard College
“NGOs at the Intersection of Drug Treatment and Infectious Disease Prevention: Practices from Central Asia and China”

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For more information, call 845-758-6822, or e-mail [email protected].

Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm EDT/GMT-4

Location: Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito '60 Auditorium

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