Central Asian Survey Publishes Special Issue Co-Edited by Oleg Korneev
Central Asian Survey, published by Taylor & Francis, is the leading international peer-reviewed, multi-disciplinary journal concerned with the history, politics, cultures, religions and economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus. Oleg Korneev, Associate Professor at the Department of Political Science and International Affairs, HSE University-St Petersburg, co-edited the special issue ‘EU–Central Asian Interactions: Perceptions, Interests and Practices’ together with his colleagues Rick Fawn (University of St Andrews) and Karolina Kluczewska (University of Ghent).
This rich volume—ten articles written by researchers from across Eurasia—resulted from the research project ‘Contested Global Governance, Transformed Global Governors? International Organisations and ‘Weak’ States’ (GLOBALCONTEST) led by Oleg Korneev and hosted at the University of Paris 13 (France) in 2016–2019. It fills a very important gap in research on international politics in Central Asia as well as on EU external relations.
The introductory article ‘EU-Central Asian Interactions: Perceptions, Interests and Practices’ prepared by the three co-editors provides a conceptual framework for the special issue. It advances the case for the approach of examining multi-level and multi-actor interactions that identify the dynamic processes of reciprocal action and meaning-making that characterise EU-Central Asian cooperation. The article distinguishes perceptions, interests and practices, pointing to the rationales and behavioural modes of multiple EU and Central Asian actors.
The article ‘Learning in, about and from the Field? Symbolic Functions of EU Knowledge Production on Central Asia’ co-written by Oleg Korneev and Karolina Kluczewska focuses on practices of EU-Central Asian interactions. It demonstrates that EU knowledge production on Central Asia has a predominantly performative character and aims to legitimise pre-existing frameworks of EU engagement and practices of interactions with Central Asia, as well as to substantiate existing EU policy priorities towards this region.
The special issue also includes the article ‘The EU and China: How Do They Fit in Central Asia?’ co-authored by two other faculty members of HSE University-St Petersburg: Professors Elena Soboleva and Svetlana Krivokhizh of the Department for Chinese, South and Southeast Asian Studies. This paper traces the evolution of the EU's interests and practices in Central Asia, contrasting them with China's leadership strategy, and discussing the implications for states in the region.
Oleg Korneev will deliver a lecture ‘EU-Central Asian Interactions: Perceptions, Interests and Practices’ within the framework of the Winter School, which will take place on February 4–5. He is an associate professor of the English-taught Master’s programme ‘Comparative Politics of Eurasia', which will be of interest to those who want to engage in research in the sphere of political science in general and the Eurasian region in particular.
International admissions for the programme are ongoing, and you can easily apply right now! If you have any questions regarding the admissions process, do not hesitate to contact us via email iadmission-spb@hse.ru or phone +7 (812) 644-62-12 ext. 61583.