Wednesday, June 20, 2007

PUBL.- Reports from the Social Research Center at AUCA

Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian Studies


PUBL.- Reports from the Social Research Center at AUCA

Posted by: Social Research Center <src@mail.auca.kg>

Links to publications and summaries of recent events from the Social
Research Center (SRC) at the American University of Central Asia
(AUCA) (www.src.auca.kg)

You may also enjoy video files of select events that maybe found under
the "Video" Section on our newly redesigned website.

Articles By Src Visiting Research Fellows:

A Comparative Analysis: The Political-Criminal-Business Nexus in
Georgia and Kyrgyzstan
By Alexander Kupatadze

The nature and ramifications of the "color revolutions" in post-Soviet
Eurasia have raised many debates in international society and have
been called "democratic processes" or "the fourth wave of
democratization". Both the "democratic-ness" of these events and the
usage of the term "revolution" still, however, need to be explored.
For instance, Georgia has witnessed unprecedented pressure on the free
media and deterioration in the human rights situation since the 2003
"Rose Revolution", while a rise in corruption and organized crime has
been evident in Kyrgyzstan since the "Tulip Revolution" of 2005.
Furthermore, it is still unclear whether there has been a radical
break with the past in the "post-revolutionary" era, especially in Kyrgyzstan.

Click the link below to read the full report in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/report_political_criminal_business.pdf
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Aleko_Kupatadze_rus_19June.pdf

When the Divine Takes Place in the City: Reflections on Fieldwork in Bishkek
By Maria Elisabeth Louw

At a first glance, Bishkek hardly seems to be the kind of city you
would settle in in order to study Islam. The fact that most of it has
been built during the 20th century has given it a definite Soviet
touch, while the years since independence have certainly also made
their mark on it, leaving it today with a casino on virtually every
street corner. As a visitor, it may sometimes be hard to believe that
what surrounds you is a part of the Islamic world. According to many
locals, here is definitely not a place where you should look for
either good "Muslimness" or for good "Kyrgyzness" as people's morality
is being corrupted by the influence of modern city life and their
lifestyle influenced by the great number of Russian Bishkek residents.

Click the link below to read the FULL REPORT in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Maria_Louw_June_20_2007_New.pdf
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Maria_Low_4%2006%2007_Russian.pdf

The End of Geopolitics and the Beginning of Geopolinomics: The United
States in Central and Southwest Asia
By Dr. Aftab Kazi

Late 2005 witnessed the reorganization of the U.S. Department of State
and the moving of Central Asia into the Bureau of South Asian Affairs.
Accompanied by the Silk Road Act II passed by the U.S. House of
Representatives, and a follow-up conference on Trade and Development
in Greater Central Asia in Kabul in April 2006, the policy shift under
the Greater Central Asia Partnership (GCAP) has defined new policy
patterns in Central and South Asia different from the policy patterns
in the region since 1992. The new policy draws upon geopolinomics,
with an emphasis on regional and cross-continental trade and
development through Central Asia's historical traditional
transportation routes in Southwest Asia on the Arabian Sea coast,
rather than on military presence.

Click the link below to read the full report in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/report_aftab_kazi_end_of_geopo
litics.pdf
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Aftab_Kazi_End_of_Geopo
litics_rus_June19.pdf

Research Projects

Report: Civic Education Curriculum in Kyrgyzstan: Achievements,
Problems and Prospects for Development

This report describes the findings of research commissioned by the Aga
Khan Development Network on the state of civic education in
Kyrgyzstan. Secondary, university, and adult education were analyzed
based on data collected through interviews and focus groups.

Click the link below to read the FULL REPORT in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/final_report_eng_AKDN_SRC_KBS.pdf
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/final_report_eng_AKDN_SRC_KBS_
555-russian.pdf

Rountables, Presentations And Lectures

Summary, LECTURE: Kyrgyz-Kazakh Relations: Economy, Trade, and Labor Migration
By His Excellency Umurzak Uzbekov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Kyrgyzstan

His Excellency Ambassador Uzbekov spoke on Kyrgyz-Kazakh relations
with a particular emphasis on three major areas of bilateral
cooperation: economy, trade, and labor migration. Ambassador Uzbekov
also discussed the latest political reforms in Kazakhstan.

Click the link below to read the FULL REPORT in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Vlasov_Valentin_Eng_19_June.doc
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Kazakh_Ambassador_Rus_June12.pdf

Summary, lecture: Kyrgyz-Russian Relations: 16 Years of Experience in
Economic, Trade, and Security Cooperation
By His Excellency Valentin Vlasov, Ambassador of the Russian
Federation to Kyrgyzstan

Since Kyrgyzstan gained its independence, its foreign policy has put
great emphasis on cooperation with Russia in fields ranging from trade
to military cooperation. The establishment of a strategic partnership
between these two countries has demonstrated the important position of
Russia in Kyrgyzstan's foreign policy. Ambassador Vlasov spoke on
Kyrgyz-Russian relations with particular emphasis on three major areas
of bilateral cooperation: economy, trade, and security.

Click the link below to read the FULL REPORT in English:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Vlasov_Valentin_Eng_19_June.doc
in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Vlasov_Russian.pdf

Summary, Roundtable: The Step-by-Step Implementation of Democracy,
Market Economy, and Rule of Law in Post-Communist Transition Countries

Roundtable participants debated how to successfully transition
post-Soviet countries and, in particular, Kyrgyzstan, from the Soviet
model of governance towards a model based on liberal democracy and
market economics. The keynote speaker at the roundtable, Professor
Frank Emmert of the Indiana University School of Law, argued that
democracy does not work properly in many developing countries. He
stated that forcing developing countries to make the introduction of
democratic structures a top priority may actually be
counter-productive to their development.

Click the link below to read the FULL REPORT in Russian:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Report_Main_Priority_Roundtabl
e_June1.pdf

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