The Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst is an English language publication devoted to analysis of the current issues facing the Central Asia-Caucasus region. It serves to link the business, governmental, journalistic and scholarly communities and is the global voice of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program, a Joint Research and Policy Center affiliated with the American Foreign Policy Council and the Institute for Security and Development Policy.
The Editor of the Analyst solicits most articles; however, authors may suggest topics for future issues or submit articles for consideration. Such articles cannot have been previously published in any form, must be written in English by the author, and must correspond precisely to the format and style of articles published in The Analyst as described below.
The Analyst aims to provide our industrious and engaged audience with a singular and reliable assessment of events and trends in the region written in an analytical tone rather than a polemical one. Analyst articles reflect the fact that we have a diverse international audience. While this should not affect what authors write about or their conclusions, this does affect the tone of articles. Analyst articles focus on a newsworthy topic, engage central issues of the latest breaking news from the region, and are backed by solid evidence. Articles should typically be based on local language news sources. Authors should cite their sources with inline hyperlinks, which may link to the original source in a language other than English.
Each analytical article of 1,200 to 1,400 words must offer a concise and authoritative statement of the event or issue in question. An article must provide relevant, precise and authoritative background information. It also must offer a sober and analytical judgment of the issue as well as a clinical evaluation of the importance of the event. Authors must cite facts of controversial nature to the Editor who may contact other experts to confirm claims. Since Analyst articles are based on solid evidence, rather than rumors or conjecture, they prove to be reliable sources of information on the region. By offering balanced and objective analysis while keeping clear of inflammatory rhetoric, The Analyst does more to inform our international readership on all sides of the issues.
The Editor reserves the right to edit the article to conform to the editorial policy and specifications of The Analyst and to reject the article should it not be acceptable to our editorial committee for publication. The copyright for the article will reside with the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst. However, the author may use all or part of the contracted article in any book or article in any media subsequently written by the author, provided that a copyright notice appears giving reference to the contracted article’s first publication by the “Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center.”
Articles published in The Analyst also appear on the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute’s Substack. Eurasianet selects some Analyst articles for republication.
Use of AI
Articles submitted to The Analyst must be written by the author, in the author’s own voice. An Analyst article should carry the author’s voice as well as the author’s ideas. Readers can often tell when a text was produced by AI, and they give it less weight. Authors who are not native English speakers may use AI tools for help with English grammar. Machine translation of an article written in another language is not permitted. The Analyst does not accept outsourcing of any part of the actual analysis and writing process to AI tools. Authors must disclose any use of AI, including for grammar, when they submit an article. The Analyst runs all submitted articles through AI detection software before publication. Articles that appear to contain AI-generated writing will be returned to the author for revision or declined.
Analytical Articles:
Analytical articles require a three to four sentence introduction to the article based on a news hook. Rather than a general, overarching analysis, the article must offer considered and careful judgment supported with concrete examples. Analytical article structure: Ideal length between 1,200 and 1,400 words.
ABSTRACT: A short 100-word statement of your conclusions about the issue or news event on which the article focuses. In the published article, the abstract appears in italics without a heading.
BACKGROUND: 300 to 400 words of analysis about what has led up to the event or issue and why this issue is critical to the region. Include background information about the views and experiences of the local population.
IMPLICATIONS: 400 to 600 words of analysis of the ramifications of this event or issue, including where applicable, implications for the future.
CONCLUSIONS: 100 to 200 words that strongly state your conclusions about the impact of the event or issue.
AUTHOR’S BIO: Provide a short bio of yourself in 20 to 50 words.
Those interested in writing for The Analyst should send a pitch and a CV to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , addressed to Niklas Nilsson, Associate Editor. The Analyst pays for the articles it commissions. It does not pay for articles that originate as unsolicited pitches or submissions.
Svante E. Cornell, Editor
Niklas Nilsson, Associate Editor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst
Central Asia-Caucasus Institute
American Foreign Policy Council
509 C St NE
Washington DC 20002
