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KYRGYZSTAN Political PLURALISM and Economic CHALLENGES

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KYRGYZSTAN Political PLURALISM and Economic CHALLENGES KYRGYZSTAN Political PLURALISM and Economic CHALLENGES Marlene Laruelle editor Central Asia Program Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies Elliott School of International Affairs The George Washington University KYRGYZSTAN: POLITICAL PLURALISM AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES M arlene Laruelle, editor Washington, D.C.: The George Washington University, Central Asia Program, 2017 www.centralasiaprogram.org This special edition is part of a series dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the Central Asia Program. Kyrgyzstan has been the most studied country in Central Asia, due to its openness to Western observers and the substantial presence of foreign institutions in its higher education system. Withstanding the pressure of its paradoxical politics, the country combines political pluralism and diverse parliamentary life with state violence, a public administration that is penetrated by criminal groups, and rising street vigilantism. Kyrgyzstan’s economy is also struggling, between the mining rent curse, agricultural survival and migrants’ remittances. In the past few years, Kyrgyz authorities have begun to follow Uzbekistan’s path, placing excessive stress on the theme of Islamic radicalization in order to justify the status quo and the role of law enforcement agencies. Central Asia Program Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies Elliott School of International Affairs The George Washington University For more on the Central Asia Program, please visit: www.centralasiaprogram.org. © 2017 Central Asia Program, The George Washington University. All Rights Reserved. Cover design: Yaroslav Kozhevnikov. Typesetting: Elena Kuzmenok, Scythia-Print. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the Central Asia Program. ISBN 978-0-9988143-9-1 Washington, D.C.: The George Washington University, Central Asia Program, 2017 C ontents PART I. THE PARADOXES OF KYRGYZ POLITICS Political Parties in the Kyrgyz Republic: Their Organization and Functioning Bermet Imanalieva 1 Quotes on Quotas? Political Representation of Women in Kyrgyzstan in the 2007 and 2010 Convocations Natalia Zakharchenko 7 Organized Criminal Groups and Religious Extremism in Kyrgyzstan Chyngyz Kambarov 16 Ensuring Freedom from State Violence in the Kyrgyz Republic Sardarbek Bagishbekov 24 Understanding Illiberal Sentiments of Kyrgyz Youth Gulzhigit Ermatov 31 P ART II. THE KYRGYZ ECONOMY: RESOURCES, MIGRATIONS, AND AGRICULTURE The Kumtor Gold Mine and the Rise of Resource Nationalism in Kyrgyzstan Matteo Fumagalli 41 The Art of Survival: Kyrgyz Labor Migration, Human Capital, and Social Networks Evgeny Vinokurov 49 Commercial Banking in Kyrgyzstan Yelena Vorobey 58 Policy and Institutional Change for Economic Performance and Social Justice in Pasture Management: Comparing Experience in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan Safovudin Jaborov, Asyl Undeland, and Altynai Achilova 64 PART III. ISLAM AND ISLAMISM: SOCIETY AND STATE POLICIES Contemporary Modes of Islamic Discourse in Kyrgyzstan: Rethinking the Moderate-Extremist Duality Vincent M. Artman 75 Public and State Responses to ISIS Messaging: Kyrgyzstan Noah Tucker 82 The Strange Case of Jaysh Al-Mahdi and Mr. ISIS: How Kyrgyzstan’s Elites Manipulate the Threat of Terrorism for Their Own Benefit Franco Galdini and Zukhra Iakupbaeva 89 About the Central Asia Program (CAP) 111 PART I. THE PARADOXES OF KYRGYZ POLITICS Political Parties in the Kyrgyz Republic: Their Organization and Functioning allows for the creation of a political party by an ini- Bermet Imanalieva (2015) tiative of only 10 people. In 2007, for the first time in the history of the Kyrgyz Republic, political par- ties formed the Parliament in full by proportional Political Parties in the Kyrgyz Republic: Their system, when all then 90 deputies of the unicameral Organization and Functioning Parliament were elected on the basis of their party affiliation and the seats won by their parties. This paper attempts to explore how and by what crite- After then-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev fled ria political party formation takes place in the Kyrgyz the country in April 2010 as a result of anti-govern- Republic. It analyzes the extent to which ideology ment protests, a new constitution was adopted that and business interests play a role in attracting mem- turned the country to a parliamentary-presidential bers, and how businesses are involved in the forma- form of governance. Although the new political ar- tion of political parties. The paper relies on the results rangement positively contributed to the development of expert surveys and interviews with representatives of political parties, it led to the emergence of a huge of political parties in Bishkek and in other regions, number (192) of political parties, which are in a per- and from an opinion poll conducted among 1,500 manent process of transformation, unification/ab- people in Bishkek. This research shows that parties in sorption, reorganization, or disintegration. the Kyrgyz Republic mostly function on the basis of This plethora of parties is one of the causes of a a patronage network that relies on business interests weak multi-party system. The parties are weakly insti- and ‘regional identity.’ Consequently, parties do little tutionalized, do not protect people’s interests, and do to protect interests of their electorate and do not car- not carry ideological values. However, among them ry ideological values. some are well-structured, with concrete and estab- lished organizational hierarchy and ideological ori- entation that make them stand out among the others. Genesis of the Multi-Party System in the Kyrgyz Long-established and experienced parties include the Republic Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) and Ata-Meken, with representation in all the country’s After the breakup of the Soviet one-party system regions. Some other newly created parties concen- in 1991, the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic trate their influence within certain regions and they formed the basis for free elections and the multi-par- often do not enter the large political arena. ty system. The laws “On Civil Organizations,” passed In 2015 the Kyrgyz Parliament consists of 120 in 1991, and “On Political Parties,” passed in 1999, nembers of Parliament (MP) formed by five politi- played a major role in the creation of political par- cal parties: Ata-Jurt (28 seats), SDPK (26 seats), Ar- ties and preconditions for their active involvement in Namys (25 seats), Respublika (23 seats), and Ata- election processes. The latter law is quite liberal and Meken (18 seats). The government coalition consists 1 Research Fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic (NISS). She is currently completing her Ph.D. dissertation at the International University of Kyrgyzstan. She was a Fellow of Central Asia and the Caucasus Academic Research Programs (CARTI) in 2011- 2013, and the author of several scientific and analytical publications. Bermet Imanalieva is co-founder of “Asia Consulting” public fund, and a member of the Kyrgyz Association of Political and Economic Sciences and the Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS). She was also former advisor to Bishkek Branch of the International Institute on Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism of the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS countries. 2 For full list of political parties in the Kyrgyz Republic, see http://minjust.gov.kg/?page_id=6551. 1 Bermet Imanalieva of SDPK, Ar-Namys, and Ata-Meken, while Ata-Jurt structure, via their fees. Usually these mass parties and Respublika became opposition factions. advance a left-wing orientation and have an experi- enced bureaucracy. SDPK, Ata-Meken, and non-par- liamentary Zamandash can be placed in this category. Classification of Political Parties Cadre parties—which have an easy membership system and an amorphous organizational structure There are a number of criteria that classify parties by and aim mostly at selecting their political cadres to various typologies, but they often lead to conceptual be sure they collect enough ‘administrative support’ imbalances.3 to get elected. Ata-Jurt, Ar-Namys, and Respublika By ideological criterion: can be placed in this category. Doctrine-based parties—their activities are By activity type:4 based on neatly shaped ideology and protection of Active parties—those which regularly participate some ideological purity. SDPK enters into this cat- in elections, have members in local councils (keneshs) egory with its social orientation, fair elections, and and Parliament. Even if the party is not represented anti-corruption drive slogans; as well as nationalistic in Parliament, they regularly make public statements rhetoric-based parties such as Ata-Jurt. about their positions, especially on social-econom- Pragmatic parties—oriented not just toward ic issues. We can count 12 in this category, among practicality and suitability of actions, but also the use the main ones: Butun Kyrgyzstan, Zamandash, the of ideas and slogans, which are more attractive and Communist Party, Meken Yntymagy, Onuguu, Bir urgent during election campaigns (Respublika, Ata- Bol, and Ak-Shumkar. Jurt, Ar-Namys). Passive parties—those which participate in elec- Charismatic parties—with members united not tions irregularly, have no members in local councils around an idea, but rather around a popular leader’s and Parliament, and refrain
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