Policy engagement (selected)
-> Written evidence for UK Government China Audit (May-2025):
My submission, “Engaging plural China with industrial cooperation, investment in localised research and specialised diplomatic teams“, was accepted as evidence by the Foreign Affairs Committee and published online on Parliament’s website.
-> Invited presentation at U.S. Department of State (April-2024):
I was invited to present findings from my Central Asian Survey article on Chinese-language knowledge production on Central Asia to 300 diplomats from the U.S. American global network of China Watchers at all diplomatic posts around the world. In: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
-> Consultancy with Global Partners Governance, for UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office:
I co-led a research team of four researchers conducting interviews on Central Asia’s foreign relations amidst the war in Ukraine. Report: “Chinese-Russian Engagement in Central Asia Amidst the Ukraine Conflict”, presented to: FCDO diplomats/officials Central/East Asia, USAID.
Policy briefs and written evidence
Maracchione, F. (2025). Engaging plural China with industrial cooperation, investment in localised research and specialised diplomatic teams. UK Government’s China Audit. London: House of Commons, UK Parliament.
Maracchione, F. & Sciorati, G. (2024). ‘The 2024 meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’. China and Indopacific. Obs. for International Politics, Italian Parliament.
Maracchione, F. (2023). ‘The energy crisis as a structural limit to agency’. Energy security, 8. Italian Parliament.
Maracchione, F. & Lemon, E. (2023). Chinese-Russian Engagement in Central Asia Amidst the Ukraine Conflict. London: Global Partner Governance. Available on request.
Podcast episodes
SPERI Presents…Ground Level: Everyday Political Economy – Podcast series. (Forthcoming).
SPERI Presents…LIVE: Is Political Violence Central to Capitalism? – Live episode at BISA 2025. Available here.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Majlis podcast – What Do Central Asians Think About China? – Available here.
Invited presentations and research seminars (for lectures, see “Teaching”)
CapsUnlock/Soros Foundation Kazakhstan. Seminar on China-Central Asia relations. Invited presentation on Central Asia’s public opinion on China; chairing of political economy panel. November 2025. Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Nazarbayev University, School of Public Policy. Public seminar “Central Asia beyond the Sino-European Silk Road(s): emancipatory policymaking from connectivity to liberation”. Invited presentation during period as visiting researcher. 19 May 2025. Astana, Kazakhstan.
St Antony’s College, University of Oxford. Public seminar “Colonial echoes, Uzbekistan’s voice”. Topic: my PhD research. 10 February 2025. Oxford, UK.
London School of Economics, LSE IDEAS China Foresight Workshop. “The Future of Central Asia’s Economic Security: Considerations on Debt, Value Chains, and Labour at a Global Political Crossroads”. Invited presentation. 23 January 2025. London, UK.
Institute for Regional and Strategic Studies, President of Uzbekistan. Invited presentation. “New Central Asia: Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Global Transformation”. October 2024.
OSCE Academy, Invited participation: “The View from the West: How is China in Central Asia seen in the US and Europe”. 27-28 June 2023. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
United Kingdom FCDO, Presentation of the findings for report, “Russian Engagement in Central Asia Amidst the Ukraine Conflict”. 23 February 2023. Online.
‘What do current and future trends in Central Asia mean for CSSF and UK programming in the years ahead?’ – UK FCDO/CSSF: Partner Days. 24 January 2023. Online.
Interviews and media
‘China Continues Its Steady Expansion Into Central Asia On The Sidelines Of Big Summits’. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. September 2025.
‘Global interactions of the People’s Republic of China in the Global South and East’. PORTADA24. Buenos Aires, Argentina. April 2025. In Spanish.
‘The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway: Between Optimism and Concern’. Vlast. June 2024.
‘Without Moscow’s participation. Preparations for the construction of a railway from China have begun’. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. June 2024. Also in Kyrgyz and video in Kyrgyz.
‘How Does China Study Central Asia?’. The Diplomat. March 2024.
‘Central Asians Balance Benefits, Risks of China’s BRI’. Voice of America. October 2023.
‘How has China boosted its presence in Kazakhstan as part of the Belt and Road Initiative?’. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. October 2023.
Uzbeks, Kyrgyz See Railway With China as Potential Economic Boost. Voice of America. August 2022.
‘Uzbek protests at Radio3 Mondo. Radio3. Audio. July 2022.
‘The climate crisis heats protests up: bloodbath in Uzbekistan’. Der Standard. July 2022.
Frank Maracchione 