Summer School “The situation in Central Asia: security, economy, human development” in Yekaterinburg ended on August 27, 2012. This event was organized by Russian International Affairs Council (NPP RIAC) in partnership with The Urals Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin. This Summer School brought together about 30 young and talented specialists and most distinguished experts on Central Asia.
Summer School “The situation in Central Asia: security, economy, human development” in Yekaterinburg ended on August 27, 2012. This event was organized by Russian International Affairs Council (NPP RIAC) in partnership with The Urals Federal University named after the first President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin. This Summer School brought together about 30 young and talented specialists and most distinguished experts on Central Asia.
At the lectures and roundtables visiting researchers shared their views on the situation in the region and possible development scenarios. As guest speakers the following persons were invited: Alexander Knyazev, a leading orientalist, Coordinator of regional programs of the Caucasus and Volga-Urals regions, senior fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies under Russian Academy of Sciences; Ajdar Kurtov, Editor-in-Chief of the National Strategy Issues Magazine of the Russian Strategic Studies Institute under the Russian President; Natalia Zamaraeva, senior researcher at the Oriental Studies Institute under Russian Academy of Sciences; Alexei Vlasov, Deputy dean of the History Department at Lomonosov Moscow State University and Director of the Information and Analytical Center for Social and Political Processes in the Post-Soviet Space; Elena Kuzmina, Head of the Post-Soviet States Economic Development Section at the Post-Soviet Studies Center of the Russian Institute of Strategic Studies of RAS; Vladimir Paramonov, author of the Central Eurasia Project; Timur Abidov, Chairman of the Founders Board of the EurasianDialog Center. The discussions focused on ethnicity and good governance issues in the Central Asian countries, as well as the situation with elites in the region. Security matters and key players’ interests in the region given the situation in Afghanistan and its impact on political stability in Central Asia were discussed in detail. The energy and alternative energy issues were also on the agenda, which highlighted the prospects of economic cooperation and business development in Central Asia.
A series of lectures and workshops was focused on the basic political forecasting criteria. The following persons shared their experience on this: Andrey Kazantsev, Director of Analytical Center at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Alexei Kuzmin, Professor of the Russian Humanities State University, Deputy Director of the International Humanities and Political Studies Institute; Kirill Petrov, researcher of the Global Issues Center at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Participants of the Summer School took part in analytical and communication skills trainings and business games.
As a result of the Summer School trainings, a draft scenario was developed with respect of the Central Asian region development after the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. While working on the draft scenario, the participants had to demonstrate their maximum potential through offering three options of political development and associated probability levels. The fact that the Summer School was attended by young researchers from Central Asia – Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – brings additional value to the School. Dialogue between the School participants was interesting and multicultural indeed. They have managed to synthesize the inside look with the outside assessment of the situation in the region. Many young professionals stated that due to the discussions for the week in the School they have come to a better understanding of the region and they have also noted some aspects that previously had not been taken into account in full in their research work.
Summer School “The situation in Central Asia: security, economy, human development”, Yekaterinburg, August 21-27, 2012
