Central Asia’s location is critical in the Eurasian geopolitical landscape, acting as a strategic hub for economic, political, and security interactions.
Kazakhstan is especially active in fostering European relations, including Italy, which reflects its regional objectives and the increasing interest of Western partners.
SpecialEurasia engaged Alberto Frigerio, Full Professors at Narxoz University in Almaty, in order to improve understanding of the region and its changing dynamics. Leveraging his vast academic background, Professor Frigerio presents original perspectives on the developing dynamics of Central Asia, along with observations regarding his personal and professional journey in Kazakhstan.
Professor Frigerio, drawing from your extensive experience in Central Asia, how would you characterise the principal trends shaping domestic inflow policies in the region at present? What factors most influence these policies, and how will they change soon?
“A core feature of Central Asian states is their historically welcoming and hospitable attitude toward outsiders. This openness is reflected not only in cultural norms of hospitality and tolerance but also in policies that selectively encourage the arrival of foreign workers, investors, and specialists, balancing economic opportunity with social and political considerations. Contemporary inflow policies in the region, therefore, are shaped by a delicate balance between economic pragmatism, external geopolitical pressures, and domestic security concerns. Consequently, the policy environment is both adaptive and cautious.
On one hand, Central Asian governments recognise an increasingly acute need to attract foreign workers, technical specialists, and managerial expertise to support ambitious development programmes, modernise key sectors, and address labour shortages in areas such as construction, logistics, and emerging industrial niches. This pragmatic orientation has led to the expansion of regulated entry pathways, the introduction of more structured work-permit systems, and selective recruitment initiatives aligned with economic priorities or foreign investment projects.
On the other hand, states remain attentive to the social and political implications of growing migratory inflows. Public sensitivities regarding demographic change, cultural integration, and competition in urban labour markets have made authorities cautious about appearing overly permissive. Additionally, security institutions continue to view migration through a risk-management lens, resulting in periodic tightening of screening procedures, stricter compliance checks, and a preference for highly controlled forms of mobility.
Looking ahead, I believe that Central Asian states will continue refining their policies by expanding regulated, skills-oriented mobility channels while strengthening bureaucratic capacity to manage data, compliance, and the integration of foreign workers. The overall trajectory suggests a move toward more structured and predictable frameworks, tempered by domestic sensitivities and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties.”
The EU showed strong interest in Central Asia with the Samarkand Summit in April 2025, while in May 2025 the Italian Prime Minister attended the first “Central Asia + Italy” summit. How can Italy strengthen EU-Central Asia relations and influence European engagement?
“In my publications on Italy’s foreign policy toward Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region, I have argued that Italy is uniquely positioned to serve both as a bilateral partner and as a facilitator of broader EU engagement. Italy’s diplomatic approach, characterised by pragmatism—the so-called “Diplomazia del fare”—sectoral cooperation, and a long-standing cultural and academic presence, resonates in Central Asia, where European actors are often assessed by their ability to deliver tangible results rather than abstract strategic narratives. Indeed, Italy can leverage its strengths in transport infrastructure, energy transition, and industrial partnerships to anchor EU initiatives in concrete, visible projects that address regional development priorities.
Drawing on my own academic experience in Kazakhstan, I would also highlight Italy’s potential to deepen educational and scientific cooperation, an area where even modest initiatives can generate substantial goodwill and foster enduring institutional ties. This form of soft diplomacy complements economic engagement and helps build durable networks essential for long-term influence. Several higher education institutions, including the Polytechnic University of the Marche, L’Orientale University of Naples, and the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, have already demonstrated interest in engaging with Central Asian universities and, in some cases, have established concrete mechanisms of cooperation. It is likely that many more institutions will follow their example in the coming years, further expanding academic collaboration and fostering long-term partnerships between Italy and the region.
Moreover, diplomatic continuity is crucial: high-level summits, such as the recent “C5 + 1” format, create momentum, but only sustained follow-up can translate political symbolism into strategic outcomes. In this regard, former Italian Ambassador to Kazakhstan Marco Alberti, current Ambassador Antonello De Riu, the Head of the Italian Trade Commission in Kazakhstan Martino Castellani, and the Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in Almaty, Edoardo Crisafulli, have all made outstanding contributions to strengthening Italy–Kazakhstan relations. Likewise, the Italian expatriate community in Central Asia, although relatively small, has established deep and enduring ties with local communities based on trust, professionalism, and mutual respect. Taken together, these personal, institutional, and community networks enable Italy to shape EU engagement by demonstrating how consistent, project-oriented diplomacy enhances credibility and expands European presence in the region.”
Could you share your experience in Central Asia’s academic landscape? In what ways has this influenced your regional knowledge, theoretically and practically?
“I moved to Kazakhstan in 2014 immediately after completing my doctoral studies. My professional trajectory in Central Asia—first at Kazakh-American University, then at Almaty Management University, and currently at Narxoz University—has profoundly shaped both my theoretical understanding and practical knowledge of the region. Working within local institutions has allowed me to observe firsthand how policymaking, academic research, and international cooperation intersect in ways that differ significantly from Western practices and assumptions. As I have argued in other publications, this environment fosters a hybrid approach to scholarship, one that combines rigorous theoretical frameworks with careful attention to empirical detail and institutional realities.
Personally, I believe that only through immersive cultural experience in the region is it possible to fully grasp certain dynamics. For instance, understanding the enduring influence of Al-Farabi and Abay is essential to appreciating the formulation of Kazakhstan’s contemporary multi-vector foreign policy. Similarly, recognizing the historical continuity that links the ancient Saka tribes to the Kazakh Khanate to the Alash Orda movement and the Kazakh modern independent state provides invaluable context for interpreting political, social, and cultural developments today. Equally important is the complex interplay between Islamic traditions and pre-Islamic beliefs, which continues to shape the values, social norms, and everyday practices of contemporary Kazakh society.
In other words, a deep, lived engagement with the region is indispensable for moving beyond superficial analysis; it allows one to understand the historical, cultural, and spiritual layers that inform contemporary policymaking, societal behavior, and regional interactions. This experiential insight complements academic research, providing a richer, more nuanced perspective that bridges theory and practice in the study of Central Asia.”
Considering your research and scholarly efforts, how do you suggest the West can enhance its comprehension of Central Asia? Moreover, how can this understanding be methodically turned into useful intelligence to inform consulting, strategic decisions, and policy formation?
“Without intending to overgeneralize or fall into clichés, Western actors should develop a more sustained, context-sensitive understanding of Central Asia if they wish to engage effectively with the region. Many analyses rely too heavily on episodic attention cycles or high-level geopolitical framing, which often overlook the institutional, economic, and societal transformations occurring at the national level. Achieving deeper understanding requires long-term partnerships with local universities, think tanks, and research networks—relationships that facilitate continuous data gathering, linguistic competence, and methodological refinement.
However, knowledge alone is insufficient; it must be systematically converted into operational intelligence capable of informing consulting work, strategic planning, and policy formulation. A practical approach is to integrate academic research, field-based insights, open-source information, and scenario analysis into a coherent analytical pipeline. Such a system would enable to move from broad descriptive assessments to anticipatory insights with direct relevance for decision-makers. Italian scholars and practitioners such as Filippo Costa Buranelli, Paolo Sorbello, and Luca Anceschi, alongside my own research and applied commentary, illustrate how this integration can be implemented in practice. By maintaining close ties to regional experts, producing multi-format outputs, and grounding analysis in verifiable local dynamics, it is possible to generate intelligence that is both accurate and strategically actionable.”
