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On October 15, 2024, within the framework of the InteRussia internship program for young researchers, the Sector for Central Asia of the IMEMO Center for post-Soviet Studies held an expert seminar on the topic: “Intensifying Competition of between Major World Players for Influence in Eurasia”.

Employees of the Center for post-Soviet Studies of IMEMO addressed the event:

• Opening remarks – Eduard Solovyev, Head of the Center for post-Soviet Studies, Cand. of Science (Politics);
• Stanislav Pritchin, Head of the Sector for Central Asia, Cand. of Science (Politics), – report “New Round of ‘Big Game’ in Central Asia at the Present Stage”;
• Azganush Migranyan, Lead Researcher of the Sector for the Caucasus, Dr. of Science (Economics) – report “Economic Aspects of Geopolitical Confrontation around Central Asia”;
• Elena Kuzmina, Head of the Sector of the Center for post-Soviet Studies, Cand. of Science (Politics), – report “Struggle for Access to Critical Minerals as an Element of Geopolitical Struggle of Major Players in Central Asia”;
• Vladimir Boriskin, Senior Research Assistant of the Sector for Central Asia, – report “Great Britain. A Long-Standing Actor on the Regional Field”;
• Egor Vladimirov, Senior Research Assistant of the Sector for Central Asia, – report “On Competition in the Sphere of Education in Uzbekistan”.

The participants of the event discussed the following issues:

• intensification of geopolitical competition for influence in Eurasia between major players at the present stage of restructuring of the system of international relations;
• main actors of the “Big Game 2.0”, peculiarities of their approaches, competitive advantages (Russia, China, Western countries, Turkey, etc.);
• approaches and perception by regional countries of competition for the influence of extra-regional players;
• assessments of the prospects for the development of geopolitical competition, possible scenarios.

The seminar was attended by the employees of the Sector for Central Asia of IMEMO and interns of the InteRussia program.