Geopolitics
The Smog of Sovereignty: Central Asia's Fight for Breath and Autonomy in a Polluted World
Central Asian nations are confronting severe air pollution and smog crises, driven by geographic constraints, Soviet-era energy infrastructure, rapid urbanization, and outdated vehicle fleets, as they open to global tourism and investment. This environmental struggle, born from the contradictions of forced modernization and post-colonial legacy, demands a decolonial, sovereign approach that prioritizes people's health over Western-prescribed development models and rejects neo-imperialist 'solutions' that may compromise the region's autonomy.
