
Former Soviet States Are Distancing Themselves From Their Old Imperial Master
The war in Ukraine is prompting countries from Kazakhstan to Moldova to reexamine their colonial past and seek diplomatic allies beyond the Kremlin.

How Western Media Framed Kazakhstan’s Protests
A complicated conflict was reduced to an easy narrative of riots and chaos.

Kazakhstan’s Reforms Should Be More Than Just Show
Promised changes after January’s chaos are unpromising so far.

Kazakhstan Can’t Torture Its Way to Stability
Until the Tokayev regime shows remorse for its brutal crackdown, the country’s reforms won’t bring progress.

Kazakhstan’s Unrest Leaves Behind a Traumatized Society
Overloaded hospitals are struggling amid a coronavirus spike.

Russian Propagandists Zero In on Kazakh Crisis
Intense interest by diplomats and state media underscores the significance of Russia’s intervention.

Kazakhstan Exposes the Central Flaw of Biden’s Foreign-Policy Doctrine
Lofty democratic rhetoric can’t compete with autocratic boots on the ground. That should make Washington uncomfortable.

Kazakhstan’s Protests Aren’t a Color Revolution
The country’s widespread popular demonstrations transcended class, region, and politics—making them distinct from those in Belarus and Ukraine.

Kazakhstan’s Instability Has Been Building for Years
As violence subsides, the country’s future remains uncertain.

Why Russia Sent Troops Into Kazakhstan
Moscow’s swift aid to a neighboring regime tracks with its wider strategic goals.

Kazakhstan’s Border With Russia Is Suddenly an Open Question Again
Moscow has long claimed parts of northern Kazakhstan. The country’s current turmoil makes those claims a lot more relevant—and troubling.

Will Unrest in Kazakhstan Inflame Tensions Between Russia and the West?
A sudden wave of protests has spooked the Kremlin and precipitated an unprecedented intervention by Moscow and its allies.

Who Will Win the Global War for Talent?
After the Great Lockdown will come the next Great Migration.

Kazakhstan’s Alternative Media Is Thriving—and in Danger
A vibrant society is under threat from the authoritarian government.

What Kazakhstan Can Teach About Medium-State Diplomacy
How the self-styled “Asian Geneva” successfully navigated among Russia, China, and the West—at least for now.

Putin Is Ruling Russia Like a Central Asian Dictator
The Kremlin didn’t invent term limit resets and constitutional referendums. The autocratic leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan blazed the trail.

Ex-Soviet Bioweapons Labs Are Fighting COVID-19. Moscow Doesn’t Like It.
One of the greatest achievements of U.S. foreign policy has been targeted by a vicious disinformation campaign.

Central Asian States Can’t Hide the Coronavirus Any Longer
Authoritarian states have been downplaying numbers. That won’t last.

Demise of the Petrostates
The oil price crash is an existential threat to petrostates from Nigeria to Iran, where governments rely on oil wealth to stabilize power and pay off competing interests.