Abstract

Institutions such as universities, think tanks, media organizations, and civil society groups serve as important actors in producing expert knowledge, shaping public debate, and mediating between state and society. Across Central Asia, these institutions operate within evolving political and regulatory environments that require ongoing adjustment in organizational practices, professional norms, and modes of engagement. This panel examines how different types of institutions in Central Asia adapt to such conditions and what these adaptations reveal about the changing landscape of knowledge production, public discourse, and state-society relations in the region.

The papers analyze institutional responses across four sectors. Organizational practices within the higher education sector are studied through the lens of academic freedom in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, highlighting how universities and scholars navigate evolving expectations surrounding academic autonomy, research agendas, and public engagement. Civil society dynamics are explored through a study of non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, which examines how organizations adjust their strategies in response to changing regulatory frameworks through processes such as professionalization, diversification of partnerships, and other mechanisms that sustain their activities. The media sector is examined through the development of investigative journalism in Kazakhstan since 2019, focusing on how journalists working in major outlets adapt reporting practices and professional strategies in a changing media environment. Finally, the role of policy expertise is considered through a comparison of think tanks’ discursive responses to the Covid-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan and Russia, showing how these institutions attempt to shape public interpretations of the crisis.

Collectively, the papers offer a comparative perspective on institutional practices and adaptation strategies across sectors and country contexts in Central Asia and beyond. From a temporal perspective, the papers examine recent changes in the period during which Central Asian countries experienced a series of external and internal transformations and shocks. By examining universities, NGOs, media organizations, and think tanks side by side, the panel highlights how different types of institutions develop strategies to sustain their roles, maintain professional activity, and continue participating in evolving public and policy discussions across the region.