Cities worldwide are undergoing a profound transformation process under the umbrella of neoliberalism. Decentralization and deregulation of urban policy, and an increasing marketization and commercialization of public space led to an increase in social inequalities, fragmentation of urban space, and segmentation of the urban economy.
Central Asia is not exempt from this global trend. Since the beginning of the 2000s, urban development in Central Asia and Caucasus metropolises has increasingly followed neoliberal patterns. The large metropolises such as Almaty, Astana, Bishkek, Dushanbe, and Tbilisi to name a few, are increasingly seen as the key engines of economic development and prosperity and are being radically reconstructed for this purpose. How do people encounter those changes at the grass-roots level in urban areas? What forms of grass-roots activism do exist today in cities of Central Asia and Caucasus?
Our speakers will discuss:
- Forms, motives and trajectories of urban grass-root activism in Central Asia and Caucasus
- Political, social, and cultural challenges and impediments to urban grass-root activism
- Political, social, and cultural implications of urban grass-root activism in Central Asia and Caucasus
Speakers:
Dr. Ketevan Gurchiani, Ilia State University, Tbilisi
Dr. Emil Nasritdinov , American University in Central Asia, Bishkek
Dr. Saodat Olimova, Research Institute Sharq, Dushanbe
Dr. Dina Sharipova, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Friday, May 12, 20:00, Astana time
Moderator: Dr. Serik Beimenbetov, Kazakh German University, Almaty
You are invited to a Zoom meeting.
When: May 12, 2023 08:00 PM Almaty
Register in advance for this meeting:
