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Features
Saving Erbayan: A Victim of Alleged Hazing in Kazakhstan’s Military
By Moldir Kabyken
Erbayan Mukhtar suffered a severe head injury during military service, sparking concerns about soldier safety and allegations of hazing in Kazakhstan's armed forces.
China’s Commodification of Minorities
By Natasha L. Mikles
Beijing’s preferred form of ethnic minority culture is a sanitized simulacrum featuring plays, theme parks, and other government attractions aimed at Han tourists.
Locked in Unrest: Southern Thailand’s Insurgency 20 Years On
By Nurrisha Ismail
In the two decades since a new generation of insurgents revived the separatist cause, the Deep South has oscillated between piecemeal progress and eruptions of violence.
Africa-India Ties: The Continent’s Next Big Relationship or Over-Hyped?
By Barnaby Joseph Dye and Punkhuri Kumar
One year after India secured a seat at the G-20 for the African Union, the relationship has not lived up to expectations.
Why Has High Speed Rail Failed in Kazakhstan?
By Joe Luc Barnes
Kazakhstan once harbored grand plans for a high-speed rail network. While its neighbors have pushed ahead with such projects, why has HSR fallen out of favor in Astana?
Debunking the Myth of Malaysia’s Economic Overdependence on China
By Jaideep Singh
Some observers claim that the country has become too reliant on China for its own good – but the data says otherwise.
Kyrgyzstan’s Vape Ban: Clean Lungs or Dirty Lobbying?
By Aigerim Turgunbaeva
Banning domestic vape sales while preserving manufacturing for export may simply serve to expand the shadow market and line the pockets of customs officials.
Understanding India’s Approach to Nuclear Strategy
By Alex Alfirraz Scheers
While Pakistan has always been India’s greatest security concern, China’s nuclear journey has played a considerable role in the evolution of its strategic outlook.
What’s Behind the ‘Credible Threat’ of Planned Attacks in a Sri Lankan Tourist Hotspot?
By Uditha Devapriya, Omar Rajarathnam, and Mandana Ismail
The confusion surrounding the Arugam Bay incident underscores the complexities of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry and the geopolitics that have engulfed the island in recent years.
Mongolia Pitches Plan to Build New Capital From Scratch
By Michael Kohn
Mongolian leaders say they want to build a new city close to the ancient ruins of Kharkhorum and make it their new seat of government.
The Repression of Muslim Identity and the Rise of Conservative Islam in Bangladesh
By Shafi Md Mostofa
The imposition of secularism by the ruling elites catalyzed a conservative backlash that has continued to shape the religious and political landscape of the country since independence.
Is Uzbekistan’s EAEU Membership Dead in the Water?
By Joe Luc Barnes
Despite Moscow’s diplomatic overtures, Uzbekistan announced on October 17 that it will not be pursuing full membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.