KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography
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has been made. As democratizati<strong>on</strong> implies, first <strong>of</strong> all, democratizati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> society that<br />
should be driven by local actors and instituti<strong>on</strong>s to promote and integrate democratic<br />
principles in the social traditi<strong>on</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the local community.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>Policy</str<strong>on</strong>g> recommendati<strong>on</strong>s for NGOs<br />
− It is high time for NGOs to assess their projects in the field <strong>of</strong> democracy. Critical<br />
self-reflecti<strong>on</strong> will help understand why the implemented projects have not achieved<br />
their goals and identify potential scenarios for new activities.<br />
− In order to localize, NGOs should become integrated in the local social system and<br />
actively engage in local social networks to spread a democratic culture by integrating it<br />
into traditi<strong>on</strong>al institutes. This will require working with local values and social norms<br />
that should always be based <strong>on</strong> the “language” <strong>of</strong> the people.<br />
− The development <strong>of</strong> a political society is possible <strong>on</strong>ly when citizens are able to<br />
associate for n<strong>on</strong>-political reas<strong>on</strong>s in order to achieve comm<strong>on</strong> benefits. NGOs should<br />
find n<strong>on</strong>-political approaches to promote forms <strong>of</strong> daily democracy that will help people<br />
associate to solve their problems in life.<br />
− The types <strong>of</strong> civic associati<strong>on</strong>s and their functi<strong>on</strong>s should be diversified. There<br />
could be attempts to develop a culture <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al uni<strong>on</strong>s that defend the working<br />
rights <strong>of</strong> public workers and employees <strong>of</strong> private companies. Voluntary uni<strong>on</strong>s that<br />
provide community services can also be adopted. Organizati<strong>on</strong>s aimed at young<br />
peoples’ needs and their civic educati<strong>on</strong> are also badly needed in order to create human<br />
resources for the upcoming generati<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> civic activists.<br />
− NGOs should diversify their approaches to promoting democracy and<br />
complement their agenda, which so far is mainly aimed at specialized political and legal<br />
issues, by including more general approaches, such as promoting civic culture am<strong>on</strong>g<br />
the populati<strong>on</strong>, especially young people – i.e. knowledge <strong>of</strong> society, citizenship and how<br />
the state functi<strong>on</strong>s. This knowledge is vanishing due to the lack <strong>of</strong> a civic comp<strong>on</strong>ent in<br />
the educati<strong>on</strong>al system and political agenda.<br />
− Critical assessment <strong>of</strong> the results <strong>of</strong> democratizati<strong>on</strong> policies is becoming a<br />
substantial part <strong>of</strong> the current discourse and research by scholars and practiti<strong>on</strong>ers<br />
worldwide. NGO representatives in Kyrgyzstan can c<strong>on</strong>tribute to this discourse, since<br />
they are the recipients and promoters <strong>of</strong> internati<strong>on</strong>al standards <strong>of</strong> democratic society<br />
themselves.<br />
− NGOs can learn a lot from critical interacti<strong>on</strong> with civil society organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
in other countries <strong>on</strong> the various functi<strong>on</strong>s they fulfill in their communities and types<br />
<strong>of</strong> cooperati<strong>on</strong> they have developed with the populati<strong>on</strong>, political parties, public<br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s and businesses.<br />
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