Kyrgyzstan: Political Pluralism and Economic Challenges
Kyrgyzstan has been the most studied country in Central Asia, due to its openness to Western observers and the substantial presence of foreign institutions in its higher education system. Withstanding the pressure of its paradoxical politics, the country combines political pluralism and diverse parliamentary life with state violence, a public administration that is penetrated by criminal groups, and rising street vigilantism.
Kyrgyzstan’s economy is also struggling, between the mining rent curse, agricultural survival and migrants’ remittances. In the past few years, Kyrgyz authorities have begun to follow Uzbekistan’s path, placing excessive stress on the theme of Islamic radicalization in order to justify the status quo and the role of law enforcement agencies.
The book is available here.
