In this episode, I speak with Nick Megoran, Reader in Political Geography at Newcastle University, about his new book, Nationalism in Central Asia: A Biography of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Boundary.
The book is an engaging and perspective-shifting account of how a new international border was formed where one had not previously existed before. Based on more than 20 years of fieldwork in both countries and along the border, it contributes to a deeper understanding of how discourse about the border has shaped national identities and nationalist politics. Among other topics, Nate and I discuss the role of nationalism in understanding politics in Central Asia, the political dynamics in Kyrgyzstan in advance of the presidential elections, the significance of the reopening of the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan border, and the names of Nick’s children.