Kyrgyzstan beyond "Democracy Island" and "Failing State": Social and Political Changes in a Post-Soviet Society

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Kyrgyzstan is probably the best known of any central Asian country, the one that has elicited the most academic publications, reports by NGOs or advocacy groups, and op-eds in the media. The country opened up massively to Western influence through development aid for civil society and for economic reforms, faced two revolutions in 2005 and 2010, and experienced bloody interethnic conflict in 2010. Kyrgyzstan is therefore commonly studied as a twin case: that of having been, for more than two decades, both an island of democracy in Central Asiaand the only country of the region to have made the transition to a parliamentary regimeand the archetypical example of a failing state, one marked by endemic corruption, criminalization of the state apparatus, and collapse of public services. This volume goes beyond these two clichs and provides a research-based and unideological narrative on the country. It identifies political dynamics, their powerbrokers, and the role of international organizations; investigates the profound social transformations of both the rural and the urban worlds; and examines the broad feeling, by local actors, that Kyrgyzstans fragile state identity should be consolidated. This book gives the floor to the new generation of scholars whose long-term vernacular-language field research made it possible to provide new interpretative prisms for the complex evolution of Kyrgyzstan.

Reviews

For the new enthusiasts of Central Asian politics, [these chapters] offer concise, engaging, thoroughly researched, and well written treatment of history, politics, economics, and society of Kyrgyzstan. For the seasoned scholars, the chapters invite to rethink the misformulations that emerged from applying western theoretical frameworks on sovereignty, democracy, the economy, conflict, and society in Central Asia, and consider the new line of inquiry into everyday class attitudes, official corruption, urban growth, local entrepreneurship, political parties, and social order and Islam. By combing anthropological, sociological, and political science perspectives with an overview of pertinent methodologies ranging from participant observation and surveys to the application of Geographical Information Systems, this interdisciplinary volume can serve as a textbook for area studies students and instructors. This is not to suggest that the book will be of lesser value for those interested in other parts of the world or variable-oriented comparative researchers. On the contrary, the individual chapters of the book highlighting the limits of the mainstream comparative politics and international relations theory provide for an instructive read for those outside the area of Central Asian studies.... The book is an essential reference for policy makers and other stakeholders in the region as it invites us to rethink the policy tool-kit adopted by the western donors in their effort to deal with corruption or nurture political pluralism in Kyrgyzstan. * Slavic Review *
The authors of this book have created a timely collection of cutting-edge research on political development, socio-economic development and identity formation in Kyrgyzstan.... This book showcases cutting-edge research on contemporary political, social, economic and religious affairs in Kyrgyzstan. The contributors present up-to-date, well-researched and empirically rich research in their areas, of interest to lecturers and students of Central Asian Studies as well as policymakers. * Europe-Asia Studies *
This book represents the state of the art in multidisciplinary research on this critical country in Central Asia. Covering a broad array of social, political, and economic topics from a variety of diverse perspectives, it charts new territory in the study of Kyrgyzstan and will be a valuable resource for students and scholars of the region for many years. -- Scott Radnitz, University of Washington, Weapons of the Wealthy: Predatory Regimes and Elite-Led Protests in Central Asia
This handbook for Kyrgyzstan in the third decade of its independence offers diligently researched, clearly analyzed, and well-written treatments of its current politics, economy, and society. Featuring fresh work from both young and established scholars, the book summarizes, engages, and extends past work on Kyrgyzstan, covering topics not adequately treated in the existing literature: everyday class attitudes, official corruption, manufacturing entrepreneurs, urban growth,civic nationalism, Islam as social order, conflict prevention,and the aftermath of the 2010 upheavals. An essential reference for students, scholars, journalists, policy makers, and other stakeholders. -- Morgan Y. Liu, Ohio State University, author of Under Solomon's Throne: Uzbek Visions of Renewal in Osh
Corruption, political reform, mass protests, national identity, class, and religionthese are the defining elements of evolving Kyrgyz state and society. Laruelle and Engvall have woven together the best of contemporary Central Asian scholarship to provide a volume unrivaled in its exploration of contemporary Kyrgyzstan. The authors contributionsbased on years of field research and, in many cases, decades of lived experienceelucidate and excite. This collection will attract new Kyrgyzstan enthusiasts and encourage seasoned analysts to rethink their understandings of this most compelling Central Asian state. -- Eric McGlinchey, George Mason University

Author Bio

Marlene Laruelle is research professor, director of the Central Asia Program, and associate director of the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies (IERES) at the Elliott School of International Affairs of George Washington University. Johan Engvall is research fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (UI) and a non-resident research fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program.