Dr. Akram Umarov is the First Vice-Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. He is also affiliated with the Institute for Advanced International Studies in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Recently he has been a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Center for Governance and Markets, University of Pittsburgh. Previously he was a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Uzbekistan. He received Master’s and PhD Degrees in International Relations at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy. He also graduated with an MA degree in Governance, Development, and Public Policy from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK). His research interests include security, conflict management, and development studies in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and former Soviet space.