KYRGYZSTAN TODAY Policy briefs on - Department of Geography

Yulia Shulte,
Independent Expert, Master
of Human Rights and Democratization
Reflection as a Necessary Stage in the Development
of Civil Society
Despite enormous support from the outside, Kyrgyzstan’s society has not
experienced a system-wide consolidation of democratic norms; neither has its system
of state and social structure undergone a practical localization 1 of the model of a
liberal-democratic civil society, which is being actively promoted in the country by the
international community. The purpose of this article is to identify the characteristic
traits of civil society in Kyrgyzstan, and to raise the subject of reflexivity 2 , which can be
used to make sense of the factors that prevent consolidation of democratic values and
the integration of civil society into the local model of social interactions. This article also
presents a concept of civil society that should interest all socially-conscious individuals,
including members of non-governmental organizations and those who are simply
considering their civic involvement.
The Specifics of Civil Society as a Concept in Kyrgyzstan
Civil society is a social construct 3 , which contemporary social sciences commonly
examine in the context of the democratic state. The concept of the latter specifies that
the key condition for the existence and development of civil society within a state
is the formation and the presence of a liberal, democratic environment. From the
moment of its independence, Kyrgyzstan, like other post-Soviet countries, saw the
international community represented by various donor organizations aggressively
promote the concept of civil society as the prerequisite for a democratic state and
society. This approach focused on establishing non-governmental organizations
that would implement democratization projects with the support of international
organizations.
In Kyrgyzstan, where non-governmental organizations were well-represented
and prioritized in the policies of international organizations, the term NGO became
1
In this article, by localization we mean the transfer and adaptation of specific social institutions from one
society, where they exist in an advanced form, to another society and the development of various forms of
cooperation between these new institutions and the institutions that are typical of the local social structure.
2
The term reflexivity pertains to any reflection or thought directed at oneself (self-examination), at one’s
condition, actions, and past events.
3
A social construct is a product of a specific culture or society that exists solely because people agree to
act as if it exists or to follow certain conventional rules. Among some of the more obvious social constructs
are language, education, money, government, and other institutions.
18