The Diplomat | Author
Colleen Wood
Colleen Wood is a writer and educator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She holds a PhD from Columbia University, where she studied activism and social media politics in Kazakhstan.
Colleen Wood is a writer and educator based in St. Paul, Minnesota. She teaches courses in political science at Century College and researches human rights and digital politics in Central Asia. She holds a PhD from Columbia University, where she studied activism and social media politics in Kazakhstan.
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September 16, 2019
Kyrgyzstan’s Zere Asylbek Back With a Moody Political Track
By Colleen Wood
Zere Asylbek’s new single pushes Kyrgyz society to get over its political apathy.
August 29, 2019
#MeTooTalgo: Kazakh Activists Push to Toughen Rape Law
By Colleen Wood
In Kazakhstan, discussion about sexual violence -- and how it’s treated under the law -- has hit a tipping point.
August 10, 2019
Kyrgyzstan: Sorting Through the Media Buzz Amid a Crisis
By Colleen Wood
Efforts to cover an unfolding political crisis in Kyrgyzstan struggle to balance accuracy with the need for up-to-date information.
August 02, 2019
The Enduring Difficulty of Settling the Kyrgyzstan-Tajikistan Border
By Colleen Wood
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan’s presidents met recently to discuss border delimitation in the wake of recent violence.
July 23, 2019
Bishkek’s Bright Bins: Recycling Comes to the Kyrgyz Capital
By Colleen Wood
A new recycling initiative in Bishkek looks snazzy, but the intended environmental impact is dubious.
June 25, 2019
Can Quotas Fix Gender Disparity in Kyrgyzstan’s Politics?
By Colleen Wood
A draft law proposing gender quotas for Kyrgyzstan’s village councils could help increase women’s representation at the local level.
June 07, 2019
New Civic Movement Urges Kazakhstan to ‘Wake Up’
By Colleen Wood
Days before presidential elections, a new movement in Kazakhstan calls on citizens to wake up and demand more say in government.
May 29, 2019
A Wedding Dress, a Tweet, and Kyrgyzstan’s Culture Wars
By Colleen Wood
The life cycle of a social media scandal is brief, but a recent episode raises key questions about freedom and gender equality.
May 14, 2019
What are the Prospects for Reform in Uzbekistan?
By Colleen Wood
A panel of experts say that prospects for genuine reform in Uzbekistan look promising, but are not guaranteed.
April 25, 2019
Can Social Media Change Governance in Central Asia?
By Colleen Wood
Improved digital infrastructure and pushes for reform are changing how Central Asian politicians and bureaucrats govern.
April 15, 2019
Kyrgyzstan: Omurbek Babanov’s Canceled Return
By Colleen Wood
Former presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov canceled plans to return to Kyrgyzstan, a year and a half after he fled the country.
April 01, 2019
After Returning Home, What Awaits Kyrgyz Labor Migrants?
By Colleen Wood
Returned labor migrants’ entrepreneurial skills are underutilized. A new project seeks to change that.