What are Research Notes? Hear from Central Asian Survey Associate Editor and Postdoctoral Researcher at the The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, Jasmin Dall’Agnola.
Since its inception eight months ago, the journey with the new Research Notes project for the journal, Central Asian Survey, has been both exciting and rewarding.
Central Asian Survey publishes research on history, politics, cultures, religions and economics of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Research Notes provide a unique space for scholars to share preliminary yet impactful arguments, early findings, or methodological advancements that may not fit into full-length research papers but are still of great value to the academic community.
While Research Notes are not meant to reinvent the wheel, authors must engage with the relevant literature to support their arguments. They should not be mistaken for policy briefs or summaries of NGO reports, but rather as concise, academically sound contributions. To any future authors, I recommend reviewing previously published Research Notes to better understand the format before submitting to the journal.
As an Associate Editor for Research Notes, I have had the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of thought-provoking submissions. One of the most fulfilling aspects of this role is witnessing how the Research Notes format facilitates the rapid dissemination of innovative ideas, often acting as a springboard for further research. This format has been particularly well-received by early-career researchers and local scholars, who use it to share cutting-edge findings quickly and efficiently. Notably, over half of the Research Notes we have published so far have been authored by researchers from the region.
Seeking Submissions for 2025
Over the past few months, we have seen an increase in submissions spanning a diverse range of topics — from novel fieldwork methodologies to early-stage findings in emerging fields. For example, “Fieldwork within Queer Communities in Central Asia: A Research Note” offers a fascinating reflection on navigating the complexities of researcher identity in queer studies. Another standout, “Between ‘Info-killers’ and ‘Spies’: Three Strategies for Interviewing Government Officials Across Central Asia,” provides practical strategies for conducting interviews in politically sensitive environments. These examples demonstrate how Research Notes are perfectly suited to share valuable insights from challenging fieldwork and complex social dynamics.
Looking ahead, we are actively seeking submissions in areas that we believe could greatly benefit the research community. In particular, I would love to see more Research Notes focused on fieldwork practices in the Caucasus and on decolonising knowledge production in the Caucasus and Central Asia. If you are working on pilot studies, methodological innovations, or early-stage data with a fresh perspective on these issues, I encourage you to submit.
There are a few upcoming Research Notes that I am particularly excited about. One explores the role of Russian imperskost’ (imperial identity) in Central (Eur)Asian ethnography, while another tells the story of a kelin (daughter-in-law) who conducted fieldwork in the bazaars of Tashkent. This latter piece highlights how Central Asian women assert agency despite oppressive gender norms. I look forward to these contributions being shared with the community soon.
As always, my goal with Research Notes is to provide a flexible, accessible format for important early-stage or focused work, and I am thrilled to see how this platform continues to evolve.
Thank you for following along on this journey, and please feel free to reach out to me, Jasmin Dall’Agnola if you have ideas or are considering submitting your own Research Note.
