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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and to the fact that it is popularly associated solely with n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
(dealing <strong>on</strong>ly with democracy-related issues).<br />
The absence in Kyrgyzstan <strong>of</strong> both a clear-cut development vector and a model <strong>of</strong> a<br />
government/social structure makes it impossible for n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s to<br />
identify vectors for their own development. When civic involvement and civic educati<strong>on</strong> 5<br />
are not a nati<strong>on</strong>al policy priority, this could have a very detrimental effect <strong>on</strong> the country’s<br />
future, since public life and civic involvement are a fundamental c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong> for the emergence<br />
<strong>of</strong> civic c<strong>on</strong>sciousness in the country, and for the c<strong>on</strong>tinued existence <strong>of</strong> the state as such.<br />
In Kyrgyzstan, government instituti<strong>on</strong>s tend to overlook issues related to<br />
social norms. Society’s values are now shaped primarily by religious organizati<strong>on</strong>s.<br />
Those organizati<strong>on</strong>s that seek to advance the ideas <strong>of</strong> Islam work closely with local<br />
communities: by helping them solve specific problems (e.g. improving village<br />
infrastructure, supporting low-income families) they enlist popular support. These<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s emphasize public morals, family and social relati<strong>on</strong>s, and people’s<br />
spiritual orientati<strong>on</strong>s, and in this way help individuals see themselves as part <strong>of</strong> society<br />
with comm<strong>on</strong> ideas and values.<br />
Experience shows that it is extremely difficult for NGOs, which represent civic<br />
(secular) culture, to collaborate with religious organizati<strong>on</strong>s, since their core ideas are<br />
vastly different. NGOs lack, therefore, strategic partners in promoting democratic values<br />
in society, other than internati<strong>on</strong>al organizati<strong>on</strong>s. And yet, the involvement <strong>of</strong> d<strong>on</strong>ors in<br />
the country has decreased c<strong>on</strong>siderably in the past few years, intensifying competiti<strong>on</strong><br />
for resources and stalling the growth <strong>of</strong> NGOs in terms <strong>of</strong> both quantity and <strong>of</strong> quality.<br />
The questi<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> the role and activities associated, with religious organizati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
remains unclear. Their role should not be underestimated, since they too are civil society<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s that seek to advance certain values, the <strong>on</strong>ly difference being that the values<br />
they advance are different from those promoted by NGOs as liberal, democratic bodies.<br />
Here we should turn to the c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> civil society, which encompasses a wide variety <strong>of</strong><br />
instituti<strong>on</strong>s that operate in the public space and advance diverse goals and interests.<br />
What Is Civil Society?<br />
While NGOs are an integral, crucial part <strong>of</strong> civil society, the definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> civil society<br />
and its goals is not restricted to n<strong>on</strong>-governmental organizati<strong>on</strong>s, or to direct links with<br />
democratizati<strong>on</strong>. The c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> civil society is significantly more complex than that,<br />
and its definiti<strong>on</strong>s are still being elaborated by social scientists in many countries.<br />
In general, civil society refers to a range <strong>of</strong> voluntary, collective acti<strong>on</strong>s based <strong>on</strong><br />
comm<strong>on</strong> interests and purposes. It includes a variety <strong>of</strong> instituti<strong>on</strong>al forms and actors,<br />
which differ from each other in the extent that they are formalized, their independence<br />
and strength. Charitable associati<strong>on</strong>s, development NGOs, pr<strong>of</strong>essi<strong>on</strong>al associati<strong>on</strong>s,<br />
trade uni<strong>on</strong>s, community groups, self-help groups, social movements, religious<br />
organizati<strong>on</strong>s, and business associati<strong>on</strong>s… these are the organizati<strong>on</strong>s that comprise<br />
civil society. In theory, the c<strong>on</strong>cept <strong>of</strong> civil society is c<strong>on</strong>sidered as separate from that <strong>of</strong><br />
state, family, or market, although in practice the boundaries between these sectors are<br />
not always clearly drawn 6 .<br />
5<br />
By civic educati<strong>on</strong> we mean knowledge about what it means to be a citizen and ways in which citizens<br />
fit into the system <strong>of</strong> social values and into the state as a whole.<br />
6<br />
The definiti<strong>on</strong> <strong>of</strong> civil society is borrowed from the website <strong>of</strong> the Centre for Civil Society, L<strong>on</strong>d<strong>on</strong><br />
School <strong>of</strong> Ec<strong>on</strong>omics. See: www.lse.ac.uk/collecti<strong>on</strong>s/CCS/what_is_civil_society.htm<br />
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