More than thirty years since independence, we look at how the nations of Central Asia are navigating shifting regional power dynamics and an evolving international security environment.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the nations of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan – quickly transformed into authoritarian orders, while external investment in natural resources became the basis for the post-Soviet economies. Today, the region faces significant security challenges – the war in Ukraine has weakened Russia’s regional position, while the influence of China is palpable.

Join us as host Neil Melvin sits down with Professor David Lewis of the University of Exeter to discuss how Central Asia is evolving and adapting, and what the real prospects are for political and economic reform.