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    Social Media Humor and Loneliness during COVID-19 Quarantine: Experiences of Asian Students in Japan
    (SDU University, 2026) Serdaly D.
    The COVID-19 pandemic radically disrupted social life, intensifying experiences of loneliness for many university students. This qualitative study examines how Asian students studying at Japanese universities experienced loneliness during the pandemic, and how humorous content on social media supported their emotional coping. Drawing on a narrative approach and semi-structured interviews, this study included in-depth interviews with five students from Japan, India, the Philippines, Turkey, and Kazakhstan who were enrolled in Japanese universities between March and December 2020. Timelines of “a typical day in quarantine” and narrative sketches were developed for each participant, focusing on their everyday rhythms, social ties, and media practices. The findings show that loneliness emerged not only from physical isolation and closed borders, but also from disrupted routines, cancelled rituals, and uncertainty about the future. Participants turned to familiar humorous series, memes, and short videos as a way to “escape,” feel “lighter,” and maintain mediated togetherness with distant friends and family. Humor on social media did not remove loneliness, but helped participants reframe it, soften emotional overload, and sustain a sense of shared experience across distance. The article argues that social media humor can act as a form of affective companionship and low-threshold emotional support for international and domestic students in times of crisis.
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    ItemOpen Access
    Palestine Through the Central Asian Lens: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan’s Independent Media Narratives of the Gaza War (2023-2026)
    (SDU University, 2026) Turdybek B.
    The October 2023 escalation of the war between Israel and Palestine led to a long-term controversy at the humanitarian and strategic level in the regions, such as Central Asia. This article focuses on the coverage and assessment of the stance of independent media outlets in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan regarding their position on the Gaza war from October 2023 to February 2026. The government’s position is being dealt with as a mediated object through framing instead of being a fixed diplomatic statement. The study is based on qualitative comparative analysis of the texts from three media sources in Kazakhstan (Ulysmedia, Orda, Radio Azattyq) and three in Kyrgyzstan (Radio Azattyk, 24.kg, AKIpress), obtained by keyword searching and screened for substantive reference to official positioning. Items were coded in terms of valence [positive/neutral/negative portrayal] and for the predominant narrative moves, i.e. legality and United Nations norms, humanitarian protection, security discourse, and procedural legitimacy. Findings indicate convergences in narratives of the formal diplomatic contents: both states are told through ceasefire calls, civilian protection, international law, and a two-state solution. Differences lie in emphasis. Kazakhstani coverage justifies its stance using governance and diplomacy, and Radio Azattyq prioritizes procedure around sustainable commitments. Kyrgyz media emphasize solidarity and humanitarian mobilization, while Azattyk highlights sharper moralslegal language and cues of accountability. Overall, the study illuminates domestication of war by looking at how Central Asian discourse presents war and reveals the influence of narration in the genesis of perceived legitimacy of foreign policy.
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    ItemOpen Access
    After Karimov and Nazarbayev: Official Media Discourses on Central Asian Identity in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
    (SDU University, 2026) Korkem Serikbek
    Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has not developed a unified regional identity, as the young republics primarily focused on building national sovereignty and state-building. Leadership changes in Uzbekistan (2016) and Kazakhstan (2019) marked the end of long-standing rule since 1989, paving the way for a new regional dialogue. The article investigates how the new presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and KassymJomart Tokayev “construct” the image of Central Asia in their official rhetoric. Despite the significant interest in regionalism, the way the presidents of the two countries represent the Central Asian identity in their official rhetoric remains underexplored. The discursive analysis and changes in rhetoric in the speeches of the two leaders from 2016 to 2025 were examined to address this existing gap. The result of the analysis demonstrated that Uzbekistan uses a shared historical memory and promotes cultural unity as the foundation of regional identity. Kazakhstan instead adheres to pragmatic cooperation and promotes itself as a responsible and active regional actor. Since 2022, both countries have increasingly emphasized sovereignty and regional selfdetermination in the context of geopolitical instability. By examining how identity is formed “from above,” this work contributes to understanding the political significance of today’s Central Asia and highlights the role of discourse in shaping regional unity in the post-Soviet space.