In this exploration, I delve into the enigmatic realm of Central Asia, examining the historical and geopolitical dynamics that shape its present trajectory. The West’s often superior stance towards the region, coloured by historical influences and geopolitical shifts, reflects a struggle to view Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—independently of Russian influence. Fueled…
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The new great game in Central Asia? Is the West back in the region?
đź“Ł Exciting News! Our Latest Article Is Out Now! I’m thrilled to share that our new article (with Stefan Wolf), titled “The New Great Game Continued: How the West is Trying to Get Back to Central Asia,” has just been published! You can read the full article at this link: The New Great Game Continued….
New book review on The rise of global Islamophobia in the War on Terror: Coloniality, race, and Islam by Naved Bakali and Farid Hafez
My latest book review is out – The rise of global Islamophobia in the War on Terror: Coloniality, race, and Islam by Naved Bakali and Farid Hafez (eds.) 2020. This edited volume explores the colonial past and questions of race in relation to Islamophobia all around the world. The authors take a critical view of…
Handbook on Humanitarianism and Inequality edited by Silke Roth, Bandana Purkayastha and Tobias Denskus is out soon – don’t miss it!
Exciting news! Get ready for a captivating handbook on Humanitarianism and Inequality set to launch in February 2024. Our contribution, co-authored by myself and Michael Macgamit, explores the fascinating intersection of humanitarian securitization and the emergence of new wars. Being a part of this incredible project has been a rewarding experience, and we can’t wait…
The death of Prigozhin: When the conspiracies become mainstream
Exactly two months after Prigozhin’s “march of justice”, which also has been called a mutiny or a coup, the main man behind it all – Yevgeniy Prigizhin – was reported to be onboard a plane that crashed in the Tverskaya oblast’, north-west of Moscow on its way to St. Petersburg. The reports coming from Russia…
Counterterrorism Policy in the Russian Federation: Furthering the Needs of the Regime – new paper is out
Counterterrorism Policy in the Russian Federation: Furthering the Needs of the Regime – a new paper is out in co-authorship with Dr Scott Walker. We discuss how illiberal regimes utilise counterterrorism to the level when the lines blur between genuine fighting terrorism efforts and the regime’s desire to stay in power. We use the case…
We need a better political analysis of Russia – how to spot unreliable reporting
We need a better political analysis of Russia! Following Prigozhin’s rebellion on the 23rd of June, the amount of coverage and analysis of Russian politics has increased drastically. Unfortunately, the quality of analysis remains to be questionable at times, as many people who have never researched Russia see themselves as experts on the topic now….
Prigozhin’s rebellion aka “March of Justice”, Putin’s emotional speech, and Wagner’s relocation to Belarus
Russia has seen dramatic political and military development in the last 24h: Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner Group, has officially declared his intentions to go back to Moscow to challenge the Ministry of Defense and Shoigu himself in a rebellion he calls the “March of Justice” (marsh spravedlivosti). Prigozhin claims that the Russian forces…
My chapter on a pivotal event narrative in critical terrorism studies is out in “9/11 Twenty Years On. Critical Perspectives” book by Routledge.
Great news! My chapter on a pivotal event narrative in critical terrorism studies is out in “9/11 Twenty Years On Critical Perspectives” book edited by excellent Leonie B. Jackson, Lee Jarvis, and Harmonie Toros. It is ready for pre-order here. Description: This book provides the first sustained critical engagement with the legacy of the 9/11…
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: What Did We Miss? A special forum for International Studies Perspectives
Our special forum for International Studies Perspectives is finally available online. It has been a big project that I have been working on – it discusses the invasion of Ukraine from different non-Western perspectives. Find it here – link to the forum. Here is the forum’s abstract: This forum focuses on the overlooked areas of…