Overview
The research group, established in 2025, aims to support educational and research activities at the university in several fields. Since announcing its policy of opening up to the East, Hungary has been building increasingly close economic, political, cultural, and educational ties with the countries of Central Asia, including within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States. The research group contributes to the development of these relations through analyses, recommendations, and concrete proposals.
The European Union is the largest investor and one of the most important export markets in the region. Thanks to its vast reserves of crude oil, natural gas, uranium, and critical minerals, the region is an important long-term economic partner for Europe. Central Asia is particularly well suited to studying the most important political, economic, security, and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The struggle for spheres of influence and the resurgence of nationalism, along with the end of a world order based on common rules, bring uncertainty and serious risks for the states in the region. Cooperation with Central Asian strategic research institutes makes it possible to monitor and analyze these processes and to develop recommendations for broadening cooperation between the European Union and Central Asia based on common economic, political, and security interests.
The group's main research topic is developing effective responses to the challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity in Central Asia. The research results and recommendations developed are applicable not only in Central Asia, but in any geographical region, including Europe. It is becoming increasingly clear that the widespread paradigms, theories, and approaches that have remained unchanged for decades are no longer suitable for addressing increasingly serious problems. In 2025, the Central Asia Working Group, at the head of a consortium of seven universities, successfully applied for Erasmus Mundus Design Measure funding to develop an integrated MA program called "Water Governance and Water Diplomacy." The planned program innovatively combines social science and natural science subjects. The consortium will submit the project to the European Commission at the end of 2026. If the application is successful, €5 million will be available over six years to implement the program.
Research group members
Research leader: András SZÉKELY-DOBY, Head of Department, Department of Economics, ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences
External member: Márton KRASZNAI
Keywords
climate change, water governance, water diplomacy, geopolitics, economic relations
News and events
Find more information, news and events on the page of Preparing Joint Masters on Water Governance and Water Diplomacy Supported by SPSW Erasmus Mundus Design Measure Project
Contact information (leader)
András SZÉKELY-DOBY
Department of Economics
ELTE Faculty of Social Sciences, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Budapest, Hungary
Address: 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/A
E-mail: szekely.doby.andras@tatk.elte.hu