Critical Geopolitics and the Transformation of Borders in Central Asia: The Kyrgyz–Tajik Border Conflict

Abstract

This article examines the 2025 Kyrgyz–Tajik border agreement through the lens of critical geopolitics. The authors analyze the transformation of the state border as a significant resource for political mobilization, a tool of symbolic confrontation, and a mechanism for constructing national identity. Using discourse analysis of official statements, media materials, and expert interviews, the article reveals how political elites in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan employ border agreements to strengthen domestic legitimacy and institutionalize their authority. Special attention is given to the dual nature of official narratives, which simultaneously emphasize friendship and express strategic suspicion toward neighboring states. The authors argue that the agreement does not resolve the conflict conclusively but initiates a new phase in the reconfiguration of power and identity. The article also explores the implications of the agreement for regional security, its impact on local communities, and the challenges of managing transboundary resources. It is emphasized that Central Asian leaders continue to shape their nations through territorial demarcation and appeals to historical and moral justice, reflecting key tenets of critical geopolitics, which views space as a site of struggle for statehood and development.