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Abstract

This article examines how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Central Asia adapt to ‘shrinking civic space’ through a diverse set of coping strategies. Drawing on 48 interviews and using the case studies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan (2022–2024), it demonstrates how NGOs respond to regulatory changes by employing both inward-looking (professionalization, diversification, simulation) and outward-looking (boomerang tactics, GONGO-ization) accommodation strategies. While NGOs in Uzbekistan face GONGO-ization under strict state control, those in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have lower degree of GONGO-ization and employ a broader array of tactics to evolve and sustain their operations. Contrary to the assumption that restrictive environments lead solely to de-professionalization and informalization, this study demonstrates the adaptability of NGOs in Central Asia. This advances theoretical discussions on civil society under regulatory pressure by reframing NGOs as resilient agents operating within constraints.