Guest Lecture Invitation: ‘Approaches to Global Development’ - Dr. Neafie

Dear Nazarbayev University Community,

As part of the course ‘Approaches to Global Development’, the Department of Sociology and Anthropology cordially invites you to attend the guest lecture: "The Role of Identity and Strategic Narratives on Public Perceptions of China: The Case of the New Silk Road in Kazakhstan".

Speaker: Dr. Jessica Neafie, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at NU.

About the speaker: Dr. Jessica Neafie is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Nazarbayev University, specializing in foreign policy, economic influence, environment policy and soft power dynamics in Central Asia. Her research explores the intersection of international investment, infrastructure development, and public perception, with a particular focus on China’s engagement in the region. She has published extensively on geoeconomics, strategic narratives, and environmental governance, including works in International Politics, Area Development and Policy, and The International Journal of Water Resources Development. Dr. Neafie’s recent studies examine China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Kazakhstan’s foreign policy strategies, and public attitudes toward Chinese investment in Central Asia.