Everyday Transnational Repression / CAPE 3.0 launch – Exeter Central Asian Studies Network

Tue, 15 September 2020

16:00 – 17:30 BST

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/everyday-transnational-repression-cape-30-launch-tickets-117024911661

Speakers:

Dr Fiona Adamson, Reader in International Relations at SOAS
Dr Gerasimos Tsourapas, Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham
Dr Marcus Michaelsen, Senior and Postdoctoral Researcher at LSTS Research Group
Dr Dana Moss, Assistant Professor at the University of Notre Dame
Professor John Heathershaw, University of Exeter
Dr Saipira Furstenberg, University of Exeter

Chair: Nate Schenkkan, Director for Special Research at Freedom House

This webinar, hosted by the Foreign Policy Centre in partnership with Freedom House and the University of Exeter, highlights recent trends on Transnational Repression in the age of Globalization. Drawing from the Freedom House Special Report, Perspectives on “Everyday” Transnational Repression in an Age of Globalization, the event will examine how authoritarian states exercise influence and maintain control over their populations abroad, from exceptional measures such as assassination to everyday modes of surveillance and harassment. The discussion aims to shed light on tactics and strategies of authoritarian states, ranging from digital tools of repression to ‘coercion-by-proxy,’ (pressure on exiles’ family members, associates, or acquaintances who remain in the origin country) and how these repression strategies impact on the ability of exiles and diasporas to engage in activism. The event will further reveal the latest analysis of the Central Asian Political Exiles Database project.

The webinar will focus on five areas: 1) the general trends of everyday transnational repression and how they relate to the more exceptional measures; 2) the digital transnational repression toolkit; 3) coercion-by-proxy and pressures on relatives left at home; 4) transnational repression in universities and its impact on academic freedom; and 5) the importance of defending diaspora activism for democracy and human rights. Examples will link repression in/from Central Asia and the Middle East & North Africa to exile communities overseas including in Europe and North America.

Please register here.

About ExCAS

The Exeter Central Asian Studies research group (ExCAS) was formed in 2010 and now includes as active members around ten doctoral students and alumni, including five members of the University of Central Asia’s Faculty Development Programme, as well as academic staff, honorary fellows and associates of the University of Exeter. The group includes scholars of Political Science, Sociology, Islamic studies, social mobilization, civil society, gender studies, conflict studies and International Relations.

Our focus is the five former Soviet Central Asian republics plus Afghanistan but our seminars and events frequently include persons with interests in neighbouring or comparable regions including Chinese Turkestan, Russia, the Caucasus, Iran, Turkey and other parts of the Middle East.

Please contact John Heathershaw for further information.