Kyrgyzstan beyond "Democracy Island" and "Failing State"

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.

• Chapter 1: Kyrgyzstan and the Trials of Independence, Johan EngvallChapter 2: The Evolving Role of Political Parties in Kyrgyz Politics, Shairbek JuraevChapter 3: Why Are Public Offices Sold in Kyrgyzstan?, Johan EngvallChapter 4: Peripheral Protests as an Opportunity: “Brokers” in Action, Asel DoolotkeldievaChapter 5: In Search of Tolerantnost': Preventive Development and Its Limits at the Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Border, Madeleine ReevesChapter 6: Why Class Matters in Kyrgyzstan: Everyday Experiences, Moral Sentiments, and the Politics of the Poor, Elmira SatybaldievaChapter 7: Sewing to satisfaction: craft-based entrepreneurs in contemporary Kyrgyzstan, Aisalkyn Botoeva and Regine A. SpectorChapter 8: Myths and Realities of Bishkek’s Novostroikas, Emil Nasritdinov, Bermet Zhumakadyr kyzy, and Diana AsanalievaChapter 9: Kyrgyzstan’s Nationhood: From a Monopoly of Production to a Plural Market, Marlene LaruelleChapter 10: The Affective Politics of Sovereignty: Reflecting on the 2010 Conflict i

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.