“My Childhood Was Spent on the Shore of a Sea That No Longer Exists”

Support Novastan, the European Central Asia magazine By supporting Novastan, you are supporting the only English, French and German-language media specialising in Central Asia. We’re independent and we need your help to stay that way! Support Novastan Archaeologist and museum… Read More

The Vocabulary of Reform: Why Central Asia Is Reimagining Its Political Traditions

From Kazakhstan’s Kurultai to Uzbekistan’s Mahalla, governments across Central Asia are increasingly framing political reform through institutions rooted in local history rather than imported political models. For much of the three decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union, discussions about political reform in Central Asia were conducted… Read More

Money, boxes and absent men: the hidden economy reshaping Central Asia

Minsk’s Eastern Bet: Why Central Asia Matters More Than Ever