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Rashid
4 days ago3 min read
A layover in Zagreb
'Where to?' - the driver asked.
'To the main attractions!' - we responded. Being a true professional he delivered us to the heart of Zagreb.

Rashid
Dec 4, 20241 min read
No middle ground on social media
‘People are disenchanted with democracy and that’s a global threat.’

Rashid
Nov 11, 20242 min read
A day in Nairobi's Kibera
This is a place of contrasts marked by extreme poverty and hardship, but also by resilience and creativity.


Rashid
Nov 3, 20241 min read
The beauty of Amsterdam
Look up, look down and look at the walls to notice hidden messages.

Rashid
Nov 1, 20241 min read
What do Central Asians think about China?
We present fascinating dynamics in the broader shifts and granulated nuances of perceptions of China in Central Asia.


Rashid
Oct 31, 20242 min read
The Magic of Almaty
I ate the best Turkish doner kebab, some wonderful Tatar chebureki, delicious Korean bibimbap, Dutch cookies, and of course Kazakh besbarmak


Rashid
Oct 18, 20242 min read
The ins and outs of social media use for academics
How to build your academic profile online and is it even necessary?


Rashid
Sep 22, 20241 min read
Digital transformation in rural Central Asia
We need: south-to-south collaboration, focus on the rural and assessment of digitalization side-effects.


Rashid
Sep 9, 20241 min read
A new year of life
At 38 reality changes once again. The only constant is change (well, and plov).


Rashid
Sep 6, 20242 min read
New book is out!
Our lovely book titled 'Digital Media, Denunciation and Shaming. The Court of Public Opinion' is out!


Rashid
Sep 1, 20242 min read
Art as hope in Nairobi's Kibra
Sun Valley Art Collective led by Saviour Juma is a growing community of artists who work to empower the new generation in Kibra.


Rashid
Jul 6, 20245 min read
Digitalisation in Central Asia: In need of perspectives beyond big cities
Neglecting to explore how digital transformation manifests beyond big cities imposes a risk on digital newcomers.


Rashid
Jun 24, 20242 min read
Kyrgyzstan beyond Bishkek
There is incredible history to experience in a short trip outside of Bishkek.


Rashid
Jun 14, 20241 min read
Bishkek in a few images
Layers of history embedded in the façades. A city of contrasts and coexistences.


Rashid
May 27, 20242 min read
New Book Alert: Open Access!
Our lovely book is about to be published! The extra good news is, there will be an open-access pdf!


Rashid
Apr 13, 20241 min read
Russia's War Against Ukraine: Perceptions in Kyrgyzstan
In this presentation, I share the study conducted with IWPR's Cabar.Asia and EUCAM of CESS.


Rashid
Mar 31, 20241 min read
Listen to Plovism
Most of the new posts will have an audio option. Old gems will be recorded over time.


Rashid
Mar 25, 20241 min read
Find a PhD position in the Netherlands
In this video, I talk about finding PhD positions in the Netherlands via the Academic Transfer website.

Rashid
Mar 4, 20243 min read
Advice for the (united or not) Russian opposition
You cannot battle the evil if you do not adopt decolonial approaches and tolerance. You must be different from the regime.


Rashid
Feb 18, 20243 min read
Impressions from Bosnia and Herzegovina
With a good friend, we walked the rainy night streets. War memory is everywhere - on the buildings, on the ground, and in the discourse.




Rashid
Dec 27, 20232 min read
Oops: When the regime comes after your ass
The artists who hoped to continue business as usual no longer enjoy immunity. The regime now comes after their (naked) asses.




Rashid
Dec 17, 20231 min read
Fostering diversity in knowledge production
Some thoughts on inclusivity and lack thereof in academia. A ten-minute podcast for RUG library.


Rashid
Nov 9, 20234 min read
Past in present: Uzbekistan
Sharing student questions from Kansas State about Uzbekistan.


Rashid
Nov 2, 20235 min read
They graduated!
Our Media Studies students graduated today. I was honoured to deliver a motivational speech for them.

Rashid
Oct 25, 20232 min read
Plovism received an outreach award
I would like to thank my dear readers for stopping by this virtual choykhona and joining the conversation. All of this is for you!

Rashid
Oct 19, 20236 min read
“Russia Germans” as targets of Russian propaganda
Thematic groups for "Russia Germans" on Odnoklassniki serve as spaces for spreading anti-EU, anti-Ukraine and pro-Russian narratives.


Rashid
Oct 13, 20231 min read
Investigating the Influence of Russian Propaganda in Central Asia
A video recording of IWPR and EUCAM joint expert meeting: "Investigating the Influence of Russian Propaganda in Central Asia".


Rashid
Sep 29, 20231 min read
Climate change impact on Tajikistan: Podcast
We discuss the impact of climate change on Central Asia with a particular focus on Tajikistan’s mountains region of Gorno-Badakhshan (GBAO)


Rashid
Sep 6, 20235 min read
2023 publications: 2 papers, 1 report, 1 policy brief, many podcasts
It is time to reflect on publications made in 2023: 2 papers, 1 report, 1 policy brief, and many podcasts. All open access.


Rashid
Aug 1, 20233 min read
Central Asia: In search of the future
The future is absent in Russia’s narrative. This void must be filled to counter its past-oriented vision. Where is Central Asia headed?




Rashid
Jul 12, 20234 min read
The sad case of humour in Russia
Tragically, like all other Russian products, the garbage Kremlin-endorsing humour is also overspilling to Central Asia.

Rashid
Jul 8, 20234 min read
Central Asia in and out
Central Asia has changed. Now there are water shortages even in the north of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan is buying gas from Russia.

Rashid
Jul 3, 20231 min read
"I still trust the Russian media more"
Policy briefs in Kyrgyz, Russian and English: 18 action points for Kyrgyz authorities, donors, journalists, civil society and academics.

Rashid
Jun 12, 20231 min read
A rural turn in media studies
It is time for a rural turn in media studies. Join us!


Rashid
Jun 8, 20231 min read
VIDEO! Hijacking decolonisation: EU in Central Asia through the lens of Russian propaganda
Anticolonial discourses and reflections increased in Central Asia amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. At the same time, Russia...

Rashid
May 31, 20234 min read
Hijacking decolonisation: EU in CA through the lens of Russian propaganda
Russia is hijacking decolonisation to shield itself from its colonial past.


Rashid
May 20, 20232 min read
Getting a PhD: How to start?
I share some personal experiences with finding a PhD trajectory in the Netherlands.


Rashid
May 15, 20231 min read
Should I get a PhD?
I kick off the first session with a general discussion of whether you should or should not get a PhD. Some cons and some pros.


Rashid
May 13, 20231 min read
Open Science Bites Podcast
Rashid shares experiences with open educational resources and reflects on how (non) inclusive and diverse the knowledge-creation process is.

Rashid
May 6, 20234 min read
Borders
We investigated both the lived experiences of border conflicts and online discourses surrounding them


Rashid
Dec 22, 20221 min read
'Chat in the Yurt' podcast: EU-Kazakhstan Relations
Chat in the Yurt episode II. Join us for a warm and thought-provoking discussion in the virtual yurt.


Rashid
Nov 26, 20221 min read
Some paintings for Babushkas and Dedushkas
As part of the campaign to raise money for the Babushka Adoption Foundation, I gifted some paintings to people who made generous donations.


Rashid
Nov 20, 20222 min read
Propaganda and Russian Germans: The case of Odnoklassniki
Why should we be concerned about Russian propaganda reaching Russophone audiences in Germany and elsewhere beyond Russia?


Rashid
Nov 6, 20221 min read
PODCAST ALERT! Join our 'Chat in the Yurt'
Our podcast is an informal forum for Central Asians and Europeans to talk with each other and about each other. See you in the yurt!


Rashid
Aug 1, 20224 min read
Kara-Balta - Kyrgyzstan's secret gem
Few Bishkek dwellers come to Kara-Balta. Those who do, fall in love at first sight.


Rashid
Jul 18, 20224 min read
Uzbek music of the 90s, part II
Music as nostalgia for hot Tashkent summers, urban lake dips, eating ice cream and being young and awesome.


Rashid
May 29, 20223 min read
Revolutionary Uzbek music of the 1990s
The stars of the 90s in Uzbekistan: Al-Vakil, Laylo Alieva, Bolalar, and Setora
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