Faculty
Reuel R. Hanks
Professor & Humphreys Chair of International Studies
About
My research interests are quite eclectic, ranging from political and cultural geography to policy analysis and regional economic development. My research agenda reflects my broad training and interests. Much of my earlier work focused on the politicization of Islam in Uzbekistan and the ethnic geography of Central Asia, and I continue to do research on these topics.
I was most fortunate to receive a Fulbright Fellowship to Uzbekistan in 1995, which although focused on lecturing, allowed me to conduct some limited surveying and other research. I have returned to Central Asia to perform research eleven times over the past 15 years, and recently I have developed lines of inquiry into the spatial aspects of economic development, the geography of tourism in Central Asia, and the political geography of energy and infrastructure in Central Asia.
Another line of research is centered on the interconnectivity of national identity and urban morphology. I am currently working on an article on this topic focused on Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, I have developed additional lines of research into the geography of religion, including elements of the religious landscape of Oklahoma. I am currently finishing a book on Uzbekistan, and a large edited volume on politics in Central Asia, which is scheduled to appear next year.