IWPR CA and FPC: Saving our cities: citizen activism to protect housing and heritage in Central Asia
This Foreign Policy Centre, CABAR and IWPR Central Asia are hosting an online discussion that will discuss the topic of destruction of historical heritage and chaotic infill development in Central Asia. It will look at how city planning and urban development have evolved since the Soviet period, examining the similarities and differences around the region. It will look at how those in power have sought to shape the urban environment in the image of their national projects and how powerful interests can dominate the development process, often leaving the views of citizens excluded. Cities have seen homes and cultural monuments demolished with little oversight and often are dealing with problem of forced evictions and the lack of new affordable housing. The meeting will also discuss continuing issues that residents face with Propiska, the system of residential registration. In response to these challenges local people have been organising in new ways to protect their city’s heritage and to try push the authorities to consider the needs of their citizens when decisions are being made.
The event will take place on Zoom.
Dilmira Matyakubova, FPC Research Fellow and Co-Founder Uz Investigations
Dr. Emil Nasritdinov, AUCA Associate Professor
Xeniya Mironova, Independent Researcher
Tahmina Inoyatova, Phd candidate at School of Communications at Simon Fraser University
Adil Nurmakov, Phd candidate of Political Science, co-founder of Urban Forum Kazakhstan
Further speaker TBC
Chair: Adam Hug, Director of the FPC