The President of the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS), Professor Ablet K. Kamalov, opened the international conference “Geopolitics, Migrations and Identities in Central Eurasia” held at the University of Lisbon (Portugal)

On January 7-11, 2025, the International Conference “Geopolitics, Migration and Identity in Central Eurasia” was held in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. It was organized by two associations of Central Eurasian researchers – the Central Eurasian Studies SOCIETY (CESS) and the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS). The work of the Conference was opened at Gulbenkian Foundation by the President of the Central Eurasian Studies Society, Director of the Center for Regional Studies of Turan University Professor Ablet Kayumovich Kamalov, who outlined importance of this International forum for better understanding of the social and political processes occurring in the vast region of Central Eurasia.

The Head of the European Society for Central Asian Studies, Dr. Abel Polese also welcomed the Conference participants at the Opening ceremony. The purpose of the conference in Lisbon was to provide a space for discussion of a wide range of issues related to social processes putting them in the context of current geopolitical changes. The scientific forum was attended by scholars and experts from the countries of Central Eurasia, from Europe, Asia and the US. Over the course of four days, the conference participants presented the results of their scientific research and projects to leading experts in social sciences – more than 250 scholars and experts from around the world took part in the conference. Along with academic discussions, the conference participant were offered a rich cultural program, which included presentations of new books on history and culture of the peoples of Central Eurasia, film screenings, an exhibition of works of art, musical performances, and art collections of the Gulbenkian Foundation.

A key organizer of the conference Professor of Lisbon University Antonio Eduardo Mendonza, was an organizer of the international conference “The Future of Migration in Eurasia” hosted by the Center for Regional Studies at Turan University in October 2023. Professors of Turan University Doctor of History Ablet K. Kamalov and Doctor of Art Gulnara O. Abikeyeva delivered papers at this Joint CESS-ESCAS academic meeting in Lisbon.