Unlocking Central Asia’s Future

Driving dialogue and research to tackle the region’s critical challenges and shape an open, inclusive society.

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Blog

Roundtable | The missing link in Central Asia’s energy transition

At a CAPS Unlock roundtable co-organized with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Almaty this week, experts from across the region discussed a challenge that sits at the heart of the energy transition.
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Blog

Navigating Turkmenistan’s migration maze

Chamisse argues that migration should not be treated as a marginal issue. It is now a structural part of Turkmenistan’s political economy.
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Publications

Two languages, two standards: AI and linguistic inequality in Kazakhstan’s public services

A systematic test of Kazakhstan’s eGov Mobile AI assistant finds that Kazakh-speaking citizens consistently receive less complete and less accurate information than Russian speakers, raising questions about language parity in the country’s digital public services.
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Blog

From youth voices to action: Six calls for transforming climate education in Central Asia

The unprecedented youth evidence base has now been translated into a clear set of demands for what young people need from education in order to face an uncertain future.
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News

Call for Research Proposals: China and Central Asia

CAPS Unlock invites research proposals on the evolving relationship between Central Asia and China. The program supports original, policy-relevant work that helps clarify how China’s growing presence is reshaping economic, political, and social dynamics across the region.
Details here
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Projects

Turn it around

Turn It Around! is a bold reimagining of climate education—a card deck where youth challenge the status quo through art, text, and urgent calls for change.
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Updates

  • Blog
  • News
  • Events
  • CAPS Unlock
  • June 10, 2026
  • 8 min read
Roundtable | The missing link in Central Asia’s energy transition

Central Asia is investing heavily in solar parks, wind farms, hydropower and even nuclear energy. But how do you actually get all that electricity to the people who need it?

Roundtable | The missing link in Central Asia’s energy transition
  • CAPS Unlock
  • June 9, 2026
  • 5 min read
Migration is already reshaping Turkmenistan. The question is whether policy will continue to push people into insecurity, or begin to recognize the reality on which so many families already depend.
  • CAPS Unlock
  • May 15, 2026
  • 4 min read
The recently launched Turn It Around! Central Asia climate cards present an urgent message from a generation living on the front lines of environmental change. they are a powerful, collective…
  • Digitalization
  • April 3, 2026
  • 9 min read
Kazakhstan has demonstrated it can move fast when it decides to. The more important question now is not how to reach the frontier of technology, but how to ensure the…
  • CAPS Unlock
  • June 10, 2026
  • 8 min read

Central Asia is investing heavily in solar parks, wind farms, hydropower and even nuclear energy. But how do you actually get all that electricity to the people who need it?

Roundtable | The missing link in Central Asia’s energy transition
  • CAPS Unlock
  • June 9, 2026
  • 5 min read

Migration is already reshaping Turkmenistan. The question is whether policy will continue to push people into insecurity, or begin to recognize the reality on which so many families already depend.

Navigating Turkmenistan’s migration maze
  • CAPS Unlock
  • May 15, 2026
  • 4 min read

The recently launched Turn It Around! Central Asia climate cards present an urgent message from a generation living on the front lines of environmental change. they are a powerful, collective…

From youth voices to action: Six calls for transforming climate education in Central Asia
  • Digitalization
  • April 3, 2026
  • 9 min read

Kazakhstan has demonstrated it can move fast when it decides to. The more important question now is not how to reach the frontier of technology, but how to ensure the…

Digital equality in Kazakhstan: between innovation and unequal access
Explore blog
  • CAPS Unlock
  • April 30, 2026
  • 4 min read
Call for Research Proposals: China and Central Asia 

Overview CAPS Unlock invites research proposals on the evolving relationship between Central Asia and China. The program supports original, policy-relevant work that helps clarify how China’s growing presence is reshaping economic, political, and social dynamics across the region.  We are looking for researchers who can go beyond surface-level analysis. Strong…

Call for Research Proposals: China and Central Asia 
  • April 30, 2026
  • 6 min read
Overview ASIAC and CAPS Unlock are thrilled to invite submissions for the conference “Local Voices, Global Debates: ASIAC Days in Central Asia”, the first ASIAC-sponsored conference in Central Asia dedicated…
  • CAPS Unlock
  • January 21, 2026
  • 5 min read
CAPS Unlock is inviting applications for the position of Research Fellow (Education Policy) at the junior-mid career level.
  • Central Asia
  • January 20, 2026
  • 5 min read
CAPS Unlock is seeking a Research Fellow (China Studies) at a junior–mid career level to support and expand the organization’s research and policy engagement related to China.
  • CAPS Unlock
  • April 30, 2026
  • 4 min read

Overview CAPS Unlock invites research proposals on the evolving relationship between Central Asia and China. The program supports original, policy-relevant work that helps clarify how China’s growing presence is reshaping…

Call for Research Proposals: China and Central Asia 
  • April 30, 2026
  • 6 min read

Overview ASIAC and CAPS Unlock are thrilled to invite submissions for the conference “Local Voices, Global Debates: ASIAC Days in Central Asia”, the first ASIAC-sponsored conference in Central Asia dedicated…

Call for Proposals: ASIAC Days in Central Asia 2026
  • CAPS Unlock
  • January 21, 2026
  • 5 min read

CAPS Unlock is inviting applications for the position of Research Fellow (Education Policy) at the junior-mid career level.

VACANCY: Research Fellow (Education Policy)
  • Central Asia
  • January 20, 2026
  • 5 min read

CAPS Unlock is seeking a Research Fellow (China Studies) at a junior–mid career level to support and expand the organization’s research and policy engagement related to China.

We are seeking a Research Fellow (China Studies)
See more news
  • June 17, 2026
  • 3 min read
Behind the Lines: The Railway

Join us for a relaxed and thoughtful English-language book club session designed for young readers, students, and emerging thinkers interested in the culture, society, and history of Central Asia. Date: 15.05.2026Time: 4 pm, Almaty timeVenue: 1000Kitap, 101/1 Kazhymukan str., Almaty. This session will center on The Railway (1999), one of…

Behind the Lines: The Railway
  • May 14, 2026
  • 5 min read
Join the third meeting of Between the Lines, a new English-language book club from CAPS Unlock and 1000 Books. The reading session will center on the powerful essay The Greater Common Good by Arundhati…
  • February 20, 2026
  • 2 min read
CAPS Unlock, in collaboration with the Almaty regional government, invites you to attend a presentation and discussion of a new study exploring opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan’s…
  • February 4, 2026
  • 1 min read
CAPS Unlock invites you to a presentation and discussion of a new study on opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan’s green economy. 🌱The event will share practical findings…
  • June 17, 2026
  • 3 min read

Join us for a relaxed and thoughtful English-language book club session designed for young readers, students, and emerging thinkers interested in the culture, society, and history of Central Asia. Date:…

Behind the Lines: The Railway
  • May 14, 2026
  • 5 min read

Join the third meeting of Between the Lines, a new English-language book club from CAPS Unlock and 1000 Books. The reading session will center on the powerful essay The Greater Common Good by Arundhati…

Behind the Lines: The Greater Common Good
  • February 20, 2026
  • 2 min read

CAPS Unlock, in collaboration with the Almaty regional government, invites you to attend a presentation and discussion of a new study exploring opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan’s…

Presentation of the Analysis of Opportunities for SMEs in Kazakhstan’s Green Economy in Almaty Region
  • February 4, 2026
  • 1 min read

CAPS Unlock invites you to a presentation and discussion of a new study on opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses in Kazakhstan’s green economy. 🌱The event will share practical findings…

Analysis of Opportunities for SMEs in Kazakhstan’s Green Economy
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Publications

Explore research and insights shaping Central Asia’s future
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Projects

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TIA Central Asia – Cards ENG

TIA Central Asia – Cards ENG

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Think tank State of the Sector 2025

Think tank State of the Sector 2025

CAPS Unlock partners with On Think Tanks to amplify Central Asian voices in the 2025 State of the Sector Report.

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Bringing global ideas to Central Asia

Bringing global ideas to Central Asia

As part of our mission to enrich Central Asia’s intellectual landscape, CAPS Unlock is making globally significant scholarship more accessible. By introducing key works from the international social sciences sector to local audiences, we aim to broaden perspectives on civilizations, economies, and geopolitical shifts over time.

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CAPS Unlock podcast

CAPS Unlock podcast

The CAPS Unlock podcast is a weekly deep dive into political, economic, and social developments shaping Central Asia.

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Turn It Around

Turn It Around

Turn It Around! is a card deck where youth challenge the status quo with art, text, and urgent calls.

Learn more
Think Tank forum

Think Tank forum

The Central Asian Think Tanks Forum is a regional platform that brings together research and analytical organizations from the region to strengthen collaboration, exchange expertise, and address shared challenges. Launched in 2022, the Forum fosters long-term partnerships among non-profit think tanks, helping them grow, increase their influence, and promote democratic values in Central Asia. The […]

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CAPS Unlock programs

CAPS Unlock programs

Regional Research Our regional research explores the flows, of goods, data, and ideas, that shape Central Asia’s future. We publish in-depth analyses of trade trends, barriers, and emerging opportunities across the region. We also examine digital connectivity, including Kazakhstan’s dependence on external internet routes and its implications for neighboring states. Beyond data, we serve as […]

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