The governments of Central Asian countries remain colonial. Erica Marat, Associate Professor of Regional and Analytical Studies Department at the National Defense University (Washington) said.
The IV International Conference Esimde is held in Bishkek on the topic «Post-Communist Central Asia: Space for Reflection».
Erica Marat made a report «Power without Influence: Decolonial Movements in North and Central Asia». She noted that serious initiatives are developing among Northern and Central Asian activists and researchers and there is a dynamic discourse on decolonization.
«The topics we raise cover both personal and political space, as well as rethinking history and self-identity. This includes questions about who we are, what borders our countries should have, and how we understand ourselves. This is our power. However, unfortunately, it remains without influence on politics. Our governments still retain a colonial character. This is the tragedy of the postcolonial world. While society seeks to rethink the colonial past, states remain clients of the former metropolises. Here is the gap between governments and the population, which is only deepening and may become a source of tension in the future,» the scientist said.
