Episode 4. Between Legacy and Liberation: Dr. Anna Jordanova on Central Asia’s Geometry to Pivot from Imperial Shadows

In this episode of Geopulse, host Tamim Asey is joined by Dr. Anna Jordanova — a rising voice on Central Asian geopolitics, Associate Fellow at the Association of International Affairs (AMO), and PhD candidate at Charles University in Prague — to unpack the region’s evolving strategic architecture in a rapidly shifting global landscape.As traditional power dynamics are disrupted by Russia’s overstretch, China’s deepening economic reach, and the cautious engagement of Western actors, Central Asian states are quietly recalibrating their foreign policies. Dr. Jordanova brings fresh insight into how domestic elites, anti-corruption campaigns, and multivector diplomacy are shaping a more agile, assertive, and regionally coordinated approach to external engagement.We explore:•How the region’s ruling elites balance internal authoritarian consolidation with external flexibility•The rise of soft regionalism and security frameworks tailored to Central Asian priorities•The limits and opportunities of multivector diplomacy in a crowded geopolitical theatre•What the growing role of Uzbekistan tells us about regional ambition and leadership•And a brief look at how Afghanistan—under Taliban rule—features in regional calculations without full reintegrationFrom strategic ambiguity to emerging regionalism, this conversation maps the shifting geometry of power, agency, and influence in the heart of Eurasia.Tune in for a wide-ranging, deeply informed conversation on how Central Asia is navigating the turbulence of global realignment — and quietly redrawing its place on the world map.