John Heathershaw

John Heathershaw is Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Exeter and director of the Central Asian Political Exiles (CAPE) project. In 2015-16, he chaired the Central Eurasian Studies Society Taskforce on fieldwork safety.

The struggle for freedom of speech in Tajikistan: Khayrullo Mirsaidov and the question of international responsibility

The conviction of a well-known journalist once again raises the question of the international community’s attitude to repressive regimes – and how foreign aid and human rights have been decoupled.

By John Heathershaw and Saipira Furstenberg

/ 16 Jul 2018

The Skripal attack and the post-Soviet practice of extraterritorial security

Traditional methods of national security fail to address “extraterritorial security” and the context of global authoritarianism and kleptocracy in which it emerges.

By John Heathershaw and David Lewis

/ 21 Mar 2018

Academic freedom in Tajikistan: critical engagement and solidarity

If academic solidarity and forms of critical engagement with Tajikistan are going to emerge, we must first recognise the primary problem comes from the regime.

By John Heathershaw and Edward Schatz

/ 1 Mar 2018

Academic freedom in Tajikistan endangered: what is to be done?

In Tajikistan, academic freedom is severly under threat. But how should the international academic community respond?

By John Heathershaw and Edward Schatz

/ 5 Feb 2018

How can we explain radicalisation among Central Asia’s migrants?

Central Asia isn’t to blame for “exporting terrorism”, but the stigmatising experience of migration could be. Русский, Ўзбекча

By John Heathershaw and Edward Lemon

/ 2 May 2017

The ‘Muslim radicalisation of Central Asia’ is a dangerous myth

Security think-tanks and expert communities in the Western world are perpetuating the dangerous myth that Muslim radicalisation is rife in Central Asia.

By John Heathershaw and David W. Montgomery

/ 29 Dec 2014

Consequences of the detention of Alexander Sodiqov

My friend and colleague Alexander Sodiqov is being held in Tajikistan without charge, under suspicion of espionage and treason.

By John Heathershaw

/ 22 Jul 2014

Dictators without borders

Central Asian dictators close down the space for domestic political opposition. But politics is still present, only it has moved offshore.

By John Heathershaw and Alexander Cooley

/ 30 Apr 2014

Central Asia: the discourse of danger

From policy reports and academic studies, to computer games and television mini-series, Central Asia is routinely portrayed as overwhelmingly dangerous. Does it matter that serious analyses dovetail with fictional accounts? John Heathershaw and Nick Megoran argue that it does, because it indicates

By John Heathershaw and Nick Megoran

/ 16 Jun 2011

A recipe for radicalisation: the campaign against Islam in Tajikistan

A government campaign against Islamic education and political movements in Tajikistan, prompted by an armed conflict with ’mujaheds’ in the Rasht valley, risks creating the very militancy it aims to prevent, write Sophie Roche and John Heathershaw.

By John Heathershaw and Sophie Roche

/ 17 Jan 2011

Tajikistan’s marginalised youth

Armed conflict has been raging for almost a month in the mountains of the Kamarob gorge between the forces of the Government of Tajikistan and local ‘mujohids’. This is the most serious political violence in Tajikistan for ten years. Here, in the second of a two-part article, Sophie Roche and John

By John Heathershaw and Sophie Roche

/ 20 Oct 2010

Conflict in Tajikistan – not really about radical Islam

For almost a month, an armed conflict has been raging in the mountains of the Kamarob gorge between the forces of the Government of Tajikistan and local ‘mujohids’. This is the most serious political violence in Tajikistan for ten years. Here, in the first of a two-part article, Sophie Roche and J

By John Heathershaw and Sophie Roche

/ 19 Oct 2010