The Diplomat | Author
Colleen Wood
Colleen Wood is a PhD student at Columbia University’s Political Science Department, focusing on state-building and identity issues in Eurasia.
January 14, 2022
Kazakhstan: Local Politics and the Chaos in Almaty
By Colleen Wood
Resolving discontent with Almaty’s local government will be an important step in Kazakhstan’s broader political reform efforts.
November 19, 2021
Looking Ahead to Kyrgyzstan’s Unpredictable Parliamentary Election
By Colleen Wood
Despite the swell of Japarov loyalists running for parliament, it remains difficult to predict the election’s outcome.
October 28, 2021
Central Asia’s FemAgora Festival Embraces Cyberfeminism
By Colleen Wood
In its fourth year, the FemAgora festival adopts an unabashed cyberfeminist approach to activism.
August 31, 2021
SOS Taldykol: Art and Activism in in Kazakhstan
By Colleen Wood
Activists in Nur-Sultan are working to protect a reservoir from destruction, but can they be successful?
August 02, 2021
Akim Elections: More Cosmetic Reform in Kazakhstan?
By Colleen Wood
Direct election of village leadership is another example of cosmetic reform in Kazakhstan.
June 23, 2021
Why Atajurt’s Brief YouTube Suspension Matters
By Colleen Wood
YouTube's temporary suspension of a Kazakh human rights group’s channel highlights the risks of civil society's heavy reliance on the tech giants.
June 01, 2021
In Kazakhstan, Feminist Activists’ Detention Raise Concerns About Repression
By Colleen Wood
Despite attempt after attempt to block critical voices from Kazakhstan’s public sphere, activists persist.
May 08, 2021
Kyrgyzstan’s Worrying New Limits on Dissent
By Colleen Wood
Kyrgyzstan’s president continues to sharpen the country’s legal code as a tool to limit dissent.
May 01, 2021
Learning From Kyrgyzstan’s Local Elections
By Colleen Wood
Local elections provide a window into the state of Kyrgyz politics – and what might come next in the three decade-long game of political musical chairs.
March 26, 2021
Local Council Elections a Big Test for Kyrgyzstan’s 2019 Gender Quota Law
By Colleen Wood
The gender quota in local councils is no panacea, but it is an important step in creating the capacity to address the challenges women face in Kyrgyzstan.
February 26, 2021
Pay Attention to Kyrgyzstan’s Local Elections
By Colleen Wood
Local polls scheduled for April 11 will offer clues about the country’s future political trajectory.
January 29, 2021
Lack of Transparency Marks Kyrgyzstan’s Constitutional Reform Quest
By Colleen Wood
Kyrgyzstan’s new president wants to open a “new page in history” with constitutional reform, but what exactly will it look like?
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