Politics, Identity and Education in
Central Asia
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 patronclient 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.
Pnar Akal teaches in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the Middle East Technical University, Turkey. She has published widely on Central Asian identity issues and post-Soviet transition.
Cennet Engin-Demir teaches in the Department of Educational Sciences at the Middle East Technical University, Turkey. She has published widely on education in Central Asian countries.
Routledge advances in Central Asian studies
1 Oil, Transition and Security in Central Asia
Edited by Sally N. Cummings
2 The European Union and Central Asia
Edited by Alexander Warkotsch
3 Politics, Identity and Education in Central Asia
Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan
Edited Pnar Akal and Cennet Engin-Demir
Politics, Identity and Education
in Central Asia
Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan
Edited by Pnar Akal and
Cennet Engin-Demir
First published 2013
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
2013 selection and editorial material, Pnar Akal and Cennet
Engin-Demir; individual chapters, the contributors
The right of Pnar Akal and Cennet Engin-Demir to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Politics, identity and education in Central Asia : post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan /
edited by Pinar Akcali and Cennet Engin-Demir.
pages cm. (Routledge advances in Central Asian studies ; 3)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. KyrgyzstanPolitics and government1991 2. Nationalism
Kyrgyzstan. 3. Education and stateKyrgyzstan. I. Akali, Pinar,
editor of compilation. II. Engin-Demir, Cennet, compilation.
DK918.875.P65 2013
958.43085dc23 2012039091
ISBN: 978-0-415-81613-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-38561-6 (ebk)
Typeset in Times New Roman
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
Contents
Figures, maps and tables
Figures
Maps
Tables
Notes on contributors
Pnar Akal is a graduate of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. After her graduation, she went to the Bologna Center of the John hopkins University in Italy for a one-year Diploma programme in international relations. Upon completing the programme, she finished her master's degree at middle East Technical University's Department of Political Science and Public Administration. In August 1991, she went to the United States for her Ph.D. degree and completed her master's and Ph.D. degrees at Miami University's Department of Political Science in Oxford, Ohio in August 1998. The title of her Ph.D. dissertation was Identity Politics and Political Mobilization in Central Asia: The Case of the Islamic Renaissance Party. Since December 1998, she has been working at the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at Middle East Technical University. She has published in Turkish and in English on Central Asian identity issues, nationalism, Islamic revival, post-Soviet transition and Eurasianism.
Dishn Alievich Shamatov is a Research Fellow at the University of Central Asia. he received his Master of Education in Teacher Education from the Institute for Educational Development of the Aga Khan University (AKU-IED) and his Ph.D. from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Dishn has taught at Osh State University, AKU-IED, American University in Central Asia and International Atatrk-Alatoo University. he has served as an education consultant for the World Bank, Aga Khan Education Service, Care International and USAID. Dishn's research interests include teacher education, curricular reforms, assessment and examination, educational policy and research. Dishn has extensive teaching and research experience in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Yemen. he has presented his work at many conferences on primary, secondary and higher education. his publications have appeared in the Encyclopaedia of Language and Education, International Journal Citizenship Teaching and Learning, Inner Asia, Journal of Transformative Education, Central Asian Survey, International Perspectives on Education and Society and International Handbook on Teacher Training. Dishn is a member of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS), and Central Inner Asia Studies (CIAS).
Alan J. DeYoung, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky. his formal training is in the Sociology and Anthropology of Education, where his particular interest is in rural education and education and social change. Dr. DeYoung's Central Asian research has spanned 14 years, during which time he was a Fulbright Scholar to the Abai Pedagogical University in Almaty, Kazakhstan (19951996), and to the Arabaev Pedagogical University in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (20002001). he was also an advisor to the Kyrgyz education ministry in 20012002, and administered a US Freedom Support Act university partnership between the University of Kentucky and three Kyrgyz universities from 2003 to 2006. Dr. DeYoung has published over two dozen articles and book chapters on education reform in Central Asia during this time. he has also co-edited a book with Dr. Steve heyneman (
