Two political geographers survey Kyrgyzstan’s increasingly less democratic trajectory
over the 12 years since independence in 1991, despite initial promises of fair government,
open media, and a liberal economy accessible to all groups within the country.
Although Kyrgyzstan is increasingly racked by poverty as well as regional, ethnic, and religious
rivalries, the paper demonstrates that the country has some of the most active and
dynamic social movements in Central Asia. The authors examine the level and type of nongovernmental
organizations as an index of civic engagement, one of the foundations of sustainable
democracy. Their survey of NGO activists revealed a group that strongly supported
democratic norms but also revealed significant distrust of many governmental institutions.
Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: D63, H10, Z13. 2 figures, 12 tables,
90 references.