A Chat in the Yurt, discussing Central Asia and Europe. Episode XXIX: Soviet heritage tourism

Step into our Yurt and join us for a monthly conversation on Europe-Central Asia developments. In this series of podcasts, we welcome guests from both regions to discuss exciting new research and the latest developments in Europe and Central Asia. Together, we discuss society trends, political developments, economic turns, and cultural highlights while assessing the past and looking ahead to what may unfold.

In this episode, hosts Rashid Gabdulhakov and Yelena Kilina meet with Guillaime Tiberghien, a senior lecturer at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. His research interests include cultural heritage tourism in an international context, especially concerning Central Asia.

In spring many European and Central Asian countries commemorate the victims of war and political repression. In that light, this discussion centers on the remnants of the Soviet Gulag labour camps in Kazakhstan. Hosts and guest explore how Kazakhstan confronts its past and cultivates public awareness of this dark page of history. The discussion also extends to visitor experiences at former Gulag sites, heritage tourism development and national branding, and the growing interest in travel to Baikonur, the world’s first Cosmodrome.   

Join EUCAM in the Yurt via SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. Be part of the discussion by posing questions and sharing your thoughts on our social media: LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Mastodon. EUCAM is a programme of the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS), the Netherlands.