Politics, Identity and Education in Central Asia: Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan

ISBN-13: 9781138302952 / Angielski / Miękka / 2017 / 236 str.

Pınar Akcalı; Cennet Engin-Demir

Opis

Focusing on the areas of politics, identity and education, this book looks at some of the most pressing and challenging issues that Kyrgyzstan faces in the post-Soviet era. It argues that Kyrgyzstan is challenged with oscillations between the old and the new on the one hand, and domestic and international on the other. The book analyses the process of post-Soviet transition in today's Kyrgyzstan by focusing on the political elites, some of the major identity problems and educational issues. It discusses how Kyrgyzstan's first president in the post-Soviet era had already been an exceptional leader even prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union in terms of his democratic and liberal tendencies. The book goes on to look at how identity is a major factor in the country, shaped to a large extent by genealogical factors and patron-client mechanisms on the one hand, and religious considerations on the other. Finally, it highlights how education has been perceived as a very influential agent of socialization that develops not only literacy and other skills, but also common attitudes and values that are considered essential to any society. By evaluating these three areas, the book argues that Kyrgyzstan cannot isolate itself from the demands, priorities and pressures of international actors, which sometimes are in conflict with the country's domestic conditions. It is of interest to students and scholars of Asian Studies, Politics and International Relations.

Spis treści

Introduction Part 1: Politics 1. Patterns of Elite Consolidation and Rivalry in Kyrgyzstan between 1960-2010 2. The Impact of Askar Akaev’s Political Leadership in the Process of Democratization in Kyrgyzstan 3. Colour Revolutions and Constitutionalism: The Case of Kyrgyzstan Part 2: Identity 4. ‘Circle of Trust’: Functions and Mechanisms of Patron-Client Relations in the Private Farm 5. From Herd Breeding to Land Farming: Social Uses of Descent and Kinship in a Kyrgyz Village 6. Religious Conversion and Its Impact on Ethnic Identity in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan Part 3: Education 7. Everyday Realities of a Young Teacher in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan: A Case of a History Teacher from a Rural School 8. Redefining Students and Universities in the Kyrgyz Republic 9. Higher Education in Kyrgyzstan: The Inevitability of International Actors 10. Conclusion