Chris Cowan

cgcowan@email.uark.edu 

Chris Cowan is a visiting scholar from the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is currently pursuing his Master’s of Science in Geography under the direction of Dr. Edward C. Holland. His research focuses on narcotics trafficking in Central Asia and the ramifications for state stability, with a special emphasis on the role of kinship ties, ethnicity, and religious affiliation in this relationship. He is specifically interested in how such identities influence state and societal responses to these issues in the Kyrgyz Republic. He hopes future research work in this subject area will allow for a comparative study between Central Asia and the Middle East.

Chris previously obtained his Bachelor’s of Arts in International Relations and Middle East Studies from the University of Arkansas, minoring in Arabic. In his free time, Chris enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, reading, studying new languages, playing soccer, and traveling.