PERSPECTIVES

While the term “Eurasia” originated as a geological label, “Eurasianism” was born in the 1920s not in the minds of geographers, but among exiled Russian linguists, literary critics, and philosophers. Through literary reviews and structural linguistics, intellectuals like Prince Nikolai Trubetskoy built a movement asserting that Russia is a wholly unique civilization—distinct from both Europe and Asia. By treating contemporary literature as a contested space, these founders laid the intellectual groundwork for a worldview that continues to shape modern Russian geopolitical identity.

Kazakhstan’s first Kurultai election marks a significant step in the country’s ongoing political transformation. This article examines the shift to a unicameral legislature, the reforms under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the debate over whether the new political architecture will deliver meaningful pluralism and oversight. It also explores the broader implications for Central Asia and Kazakhstan’s growing partnership with India.

A quiet transformation is underway as a ‘Digital Silk Route’ takes shape across Eurasia, potentially reshaping how societies collaborate and work together beyond physical highways and pipelines.