Cyberspace in the Post-Soviet States: Assessing the Role of New Media in Central Asia

Abstract

Since independence, the five post-Soviet States of Central Asia have taken divergent trajectories of economic growth as well as civil and political liberties. Respective regimes still try to regulate information flow in a continuation of the Soviet era, with the possible exception of Kyrgyzstan. Nonetheless, the overall regulations on media are certainly much more pluralistic now than they were in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Internet and social media, in particular, have emerged as an important platform for communication. But our knowledge about Central Asia in general and the digital space of the region, in particular, is still limited. This article makes a comprehensive country-wise assessment of the cyberspace of the five Central Asian countries to understand better the role and impact of the information and communication technologies in these post-Soviet states.