CREES Noon Lecture. Who Defines Central Asia? Decolonial Disruptions from Below

A consequential shift is taking place in Central Asian studies today. What started as a slow rejection of the idea that the region benefited from Soviet control has turned into a decentralized, collective effort to revise the region’s relationship to its colonial identity and to search for indigenous interpretations of the self. A recent Cambridge Element publication co-authored by Erica Marat and Aizada Arystanbek explores the current decolonial disruptions in Central Asia – how the region is being redefined by its inhabitants, both in discourse and in practice. It captures the main areas of activism in memory studies, language activism, art installations, and transnational solidarity networks. Decolonial discussions are gaining traction, challenging political elites’ hegemony over national identity formation. Such changes harbor the potential to profoundly alter Russia’s influence in the areas it once controlled. Decolonial disruptions are reshaping how Central Asians think about their past and imagine their future.

Dr. Erica Marat is an adjunct professor at the Center for Security Studies, Georgetown University. Her research focuses on violence, mobilization and security institutions in Europe, Central Asia, India, and Mexico. She is an author of several books, including "Decolonial Disruptions in Central Asia: Discussion, Practices, and Networks" (Cambridge Elements 2026) and "Transformative Violence: When Routine Cruelty Sparks Historic Mobilization" (Oxford University Press 2024). Her articles have appeared in "Foreign Affairs," "Foreign Policy," "Just Security," and "Open Democracy."

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us at crees@umich.edu. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.

Part of the International Institute Theme Year: Sovereignty
https://myumi.ch/ii-theme