Dear all, a reminder for our upcoming conference in Fribourg (CH). Apologies for cross-posting!


Knowledge Production in/on Central Asia: Forms, Purposes and Practices
University of Fribourg (CH)/CASNiG Conference, 25-26 August 2022

What does it mean, to produce knowledge about a region? Who is generating this knowledge,
where, and to what ends? What are the implications and the effects of these practices?
The Fribourg 2022 conference, in collaboration with the Central Asian Studies Network in
Germany (CASNiG), aims to inquire into the forms of knowledge being produced in and about
Central Asia. By bringing together a broad range of disciplines and expertises, we strive to
adequately reflect the field’s growing richness and heterogeneity, and to carry on the fruitful
conversations initiated by similar recent endeavours. The conference will prioritise
“decolonising” the field - giving space to Central Asian voices, and promoting critical reflections
on the positionalities, practices and interactions of scholars and experts working in/on the region
(Haraway, 1988).

The goal is to collaboratively and critically assess claims to scientific authority - from the natural
sciences, to the humanities, and the spaces in-between (De La Croix et al., 2021; Lave et al.,
2014; Kassymbekova and Chokobaeva, 2021). Understanding their theoretical assumptions
and historical backgrounds helps attune scholars to the power imbalances they reflect and
perpetuate - in academic conferences and publications, as much as in field expeditions.
The problem of unequal access to this knowledge production is increasingly evident, and rightly
problematized (Sultanalieva, 2019; Tlostanova, 2015). Therefore, how do we foster
transnational communities, spaces and institutions where local actors’ ideas and ambitions take
precedence, and are adequately heard?

After over 30 years of Central Asian independence, and with the growth of a lively and diverse
research community, now more than ever is “a time to host spirited debates and explore
experimental approaches, new theories, and topics.” (Marat, 2021)

The conference welcomes papers in English or Russian, including but not limited to topics
such as:

– The security/stability imperative and knowledge production in/on Central Asia;
– Reflections on the interactions between history, global(izing) transformation processes
(and inequalities), traditional knowledges, and local practices;
– “Spaces and places:” histories of inter-ethnic interactions; local sociocultural and
ecological perspectives; envisioning new spaces and institutions;
– Striving to “decolonize” the field: positionality, self-reflexivity, linguistic considerations,
epistemic pluralism, and possible methodologies;
– Environmental histories and physical geography in a turbulent climate conjuncture:
science, knowledge, power, and fieldwork in Central Asia;
– Central Asian perspectives on - and from - China, Russia, Mongolia, the Middle East and
more.

The working language of the conference will be English.
We aim to produce a peer-reviewed special issue from this conference.

PhD workshops

The University of Fribourg and CASNiG are strongly committed to supporting PhD students and
early-career researchers, by consolidating an international network able to maintain contacts
and facilitate exchange and support through unpredictable times.
A series of workshops will be developed to tackle in-depth some of the aspects of research
in/on Central Asia, such as: positionality, ethics, access, sharing research data, academic and
social outreach.
Please indicate in your application email whether you would like to participate in the workshops,
and which topics (not limited to those listed here) would be most relevant to you.
Submission deadlines
The deadline for submissions of abstracts is March 18th, 2022.

Please send the following details as a single PDF to
Kateřina Zäch ([log in to unmask]),
CC: Esther Blokbergen ([log in to unmask])

– Title
– Abstract of your paper (max. 250 words)
– Brief bio (max. 250 words)
– Contact information (name, affiliation, email address)
– For PhD students: expression of interest in attending the workshops, and topics.

Full draft conference papers should be submitted by May 30th, 2022, at the latest.
The conference is planned for 25-26 August 2022.

Given continuing travel uncertainties, a hybrid format will be arranged to accommodate
participants who cannot attend in person.

The organizers will strive to secure (limited) travel grants and accommodation support.

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