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    Internet and New Media Use by Central Asian Citizens Before and Towards the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic
    (SDU Journal of Media Studies, 2025) Yerkebulan Sairambay
    This research examines the differences and similarities in the Internet, chat room, messenger, and social media use by citizens in Central Asia before and towards the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Five stans –Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan –have varying levels of authoritarianism and media usage, especially new media use, might differ among these countries. Drawing on Central Asia Barometer, I demonstrate such comparisons over three years using data collected in 2019 and 2022. In addition to this, I also analyse the frequencies of Internet use by Central Asian people and which chat rooms, messengers, and social media were used most often in the region. The results and analysis show that by the end of the pandemic, citizensof all five republics began to use the Internet more, albeit in different volumes, compared to 2019. Accordingly, the frequency of use of new media (chat rooms, messengers, and social media) was also positive with varying degrees of difference.Possible explanations for these results and the usefulness of this study are discussed.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Kazakhstan’s Proactive Measures in Addressing the Aral Sea Crisis as a Platform for Enhanced International Representation and Media Engagement
    (SDU Journal of Media Studies, 2025) Arailym Niyetbek
    After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the countries of Central Asia faced new challenges, including the gradual disappearance of the Aral Sea rooted in the Soviet era. This near disappearance serves as a symbol of the region’s victimisation, as the Soviets diverted the waters of what was once the fourth largest lake in the world to irrigate cotton fields and boost agricultural output. Once spanning 68,000 square kilometres, the sea has shrunk by 90%. Being a key player in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has taken the lead in regional efforts to find solutions to this critical environmental, social, and economic disaster. As a young state striving for recognition, Kazakhstan has come under close attention, implementing various initiatives, including the construction of the first sand dam in the Berg Strait and the Kokaral Dam, the signing of the Almaty Agreement, the establishment of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) and the organisation of EXPO 2017. The paper attempts to explain Kazakhstan’s efforts in resolving the crisis in the Aral Sea and its impact on its international representation and media engagement. The findings indicate that Kazakhstan’s environmental actions may potentially support not only the restoration of local ecology but also strengthen the country’s image as an important regional player in sustainable development. This paper addresses environmental diplomacy in the context of strategic action for countries seeking better positions globally while seeking solutions for pressing ecological problems.