Bekzod Zakirov

Bekzod Zakirov holds a PhD from the University of Tokyo in international public policy. Currently, he is working as a director of the Center for Policy Research and Outreach and course leader for International Relations and Law at Westminster International University in Tashkent. He was a visiting research fellow at Center for Study of Democracy at University of Westminster in London and IERES at George Washington University in Washington DC. His research interests include political economy of capitalism in Central Asia and Russia, the presence of Chinese investment in Central Asia, governance of critical minerals strategies of Central Asian countries. He has led numerous grant projects from international organizations, including FAO, UNICEF, UNDP, AdF, World Bank and CAREC Institute in the area governance, climate security, critical minerals and capacity building. His research papers and opinion pieces appeared in Central Asian Affairs, The Diplomat and National Interest.