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It's been a great pleasure to host the "Please Publish, Don’t Perish" seminar today by Dr. Colin Knox (Ulster University/Nazarbayev University) at the University of Central Asia. Colin shared his perspectives on publications and publishing strategies for early-career scholars...

Digital forum 2024 in Bishkek. For two days we discussed the digital transformation of public sector in Central Asia. Many thanks to all speakers, moderators and guests

Attended the Paper Lab/Caps Unlock think tank summit in Astana this October. I shared insights on the regime transitions in Central Asia (Kaz and Kyrg). My message: we must move beyond binary "autocracy vs. democracy" when analyzing the political changes in the region.

Happy to share my third collaboration with Dr. Colin Knox is out in Swiss Political Science Review! We analyze how Central Asian states use digital repression, revealing significant variation in social media censorship, disinformation, and repression. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/sp…

I am moving to Bsky. Please follow me there. bsky.app/profile/bkurma…

Happy to share that you can read my chapter on Understanding the Nation-Building Process under Tokayev in the Context of Russia-Ukraine war now (click on the google books link through google scholar). scholar.google.com/citations?view…

2024 Academic Year outputs (Peer Reviewed Journals) Acceptance: 6 Rejections: 2 Revisions: 8 (new) Submissions: 5 P.S. Many thanks to Raushan for your support and love!

doi.org/10.1080/215991… Recently I read this excellent article by K. Lozka on everyday protest against autocratization in Belarus. It is striking to see the similarities between digital activism there and in Kazakhstan, particularly with movements like Oyan Qazaqstan.

🚀 Join CAPS Unlock & University of Central Asia online seminars! Seminar #1: Evolving Strategies of Digital State Control in Central Asia 🎙 🗓 March 3, 16:00 Almaty time 🎤 Dr. Bakhytzhan Kurmanov (Bakhytzhan Kurmanov )| 💬 Zuhra Halimova Register:us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

Today I will be participating webinar on Digital State Control in Central Asia (4 pm Almaty time/ 5 pm Bishkek time/ 11 am UK time). Please register at the link:us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist…

Happy to having contributed with a chapter on Open Government in Central Asia (co-authored with S. Janenova)

ucentralasia.org/resources-and-… Despite its name, the conference accepts proposals (individual abstracts and panels) related to socio-economic and political development of the whole Central Asian region. Bishkek is really lovely to visit in early October.

Had a great exchange with Durham University grad students at UCA! We discussed UCA’s research, Central Asia’s socio-political landscape. I shared insights from my recent Journal of Contemporary Asia paper on state-civil society relations. Looking forward to future collaborations

Published a chapter (Co-authored with S. Janenova) on Open Government in Central Asia in Research Handbook. In this work we analyze the cases of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, two most active reformers in CA region. The Pdf is available upon request. elgaronline.com/edcollchap/boo…

Recently I gave my first ever keynote address at the conference organized by CEGREG at Maqsut Narikbayev University. I shared my insights on the Art of being a social scientist in Central Asia: 3 strategies how to be sucessful in challenging political settings. Thanks Ikboljon Qoraboyev

Recently visited Dushanbe, Tajikistan to participate in the E-Gate Conference (focusing on E-Commerce) organized by World Bank. Had several meetings with gov't officials and civil society regarding government digitalization. Visited IT Park Dushanbe.

us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regist… Tomorrow I am participating as a discussant on a joint University of Central Asia and Central Asian Policy Studies webinar on Kazakhstan internet. We will discuss the issues of state control, dependancies and hurdles.