Edward Lemon
I started my ESRC funded PhD in the Department of Politics in September 2012. Under the supervision of Dr John Heathershaw, in my research I examine the relationships between (in)security, secularity and religiosity in post-Soviet Tajikistan.
I began my academic career at Kings College London, where I graduated with a BA in War Studies (First class). During undergraduate degree, I developed an interest in the "Great Game" in early twentieth century Central Asia, writing my dissertation on Dunsterforce, the ill-fated British intervention in the Caucasus in 1918. After graduating, I completed an MLitt in Middle Eastern and Central Asian Security at the University of St Andrews. Whilst at St Andrews, I further explored my interest in contemporary Central Asian politics and security.
In order to develop the necessary language skills and contacts for my future research, I moved to Tajikistan in September 2010. I ended up spending two years in Central Asia, in the process learning Russian and Tajik. During my two years in Central Asia, I lived in three countries: Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. In Central Asia I worked as a project proposal writer for the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia and as a freelance journalist. EurasiaNet.org, The Conway Bulletin and Reuters AlertNet all published my work.
