Shairbek Juraev

Shairbek Juraev (Dzhuraev), PhD, is Co-Founder and President of Crossroads Central Asia. A political scientist by training, he specialises in Central Asia’s foreign policy and regional cooperation. He also leads Target Research ↗︎, a research and advisory firm.

He previously served as Deputy Director of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek (2012–2015; 2025) and holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of St Andrews and an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Juraev has led or contributed to research and evaluation projects for organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, USAID, and several international development agencies and NGOs. His work focuses on regional cooperation, foreign policy strategy, and the evolving geopolitical landscape of Central Asia.

In addition to his research and advisory work, he has taught university courses on international politics, Central Asian affairs, and foreign policy analysis. He is a member of PONARS Eurasia and has been involved in advisory initiatives related to EU–Central Asia engagement and regional policy dialogue.

Fluent in English, Russian, and Kyrgyz, he works at the intersection of academic research and policy practice across Central Asia.

Contact: shairbek [at] crossroads-ca.org