Bard College Hosts Conference on Central Asia to Discuss Political, Economic, Educational, and Socio-Cultural Changes in the Region on April 4

Bard College hosts “Central Asia at the Crossroads: Governance, Innovation, and Identity in Transition,” a conference that brings together faculty, scholars, and administrators from the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) and Bard College. 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. The conference 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. This conference will take place on Friday, April 4 from 10:00 am to 5:15 pm in the Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito ’60 Auditorium, on Bard College campus. This event is free and open to the public. 
 

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
“Central Asia at the Crossroads: Governance, Innovation, and Identity in Transition” 
Friday, April 4, 2025
Reem-Kayden Center Laszlo Z. Bito ’60 Auditorium, Bard College

10:00–10:30 am
Opening remarks
 
10:30 am–12:00 pm
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 pm
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 pm
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”
 

For more information: Contact Olga Voronina at ovoronin@bard.edu.  
About Bard College
Founded in 1860, Bard College is a four-year residential college of the liberal arts and sciences located 90 miles north of New York City. With the addition of the Montgomery Place and Massena properties, Bard’s campus consists of more than 1,200 parklike acres in the Hudson River Valley. It offers bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and bachelor of music degrees, with majors in nearly 40 academic programs; advanced degrees through 13 graduate programs; nine early colleges; and numerous dual-degree programs nationally and internationally. Building on its 165-year history as a competitive and innovative undergraduate institution, Bard College has expanded its mission as a private institution acting in the public interest across the country and around the world to meet broader student needs and increase access to liberal arts education. The undergraduate program at the main campus in upstate New York has a reputation for scholarly excellence, a focus on the arts, and civic engagement. Bard is committed to enriching culture, public life, and democratic discourse by training tomorrow’s thought leaders. For more information about Bard College, visit bard.edu.

This event was last updated on 04-02-2025

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