3 February - March 2006 № Topic of the issue: CONTENTS National ideology: forward or backward? Ishenbai Abdurazakov: Muratbek Imanaliev ......................................2 National ideology: choosing the direction “We need an ideology Roundtable transcript .................................4 which will serve our Guest of the issue: national goal. At the Sultan Raev ..............................................13 present stage, there is Appointments problems in civil service only one goal – to progress, Roundtable transcript ................................15 BRIEF Issue KYRGYZSTAN to move forward and Who in Kyrgyzstan supports liberal not to turn into a world democracy? village, an ethnographic Melissa Burn ..............................................24 museum.” – p. 5 Self-identifi cation of modern Kyrgyz society Elmira Nogoybaeva ....................................29 Social and economic risks and their impact on the political stability in Kyrgyzstan Gulasel Abylova .........................................32 ABOUT IPP The Institute for Public Policy (IPP) is an independent, non-partisan research and policy-making institution, based in Bishkek. Its goals are to develop and promote participatory approach in establishing public policy; to strengthen expert analysis in order to promote effective decision- making in matters of public policy and to create an independent platform for dialogue on public policy issues. The Institute provides expert consulting, research and surveys on Central Asian affairs, confl ict management services as well as implementation of educational and cultural projects aimed at good governance. Institute for Public Policy 42/1 Isanov kochosu Bishkek 720017 Kyrgyzstan Tel/Fax: +996(312) 215763 Email: offi [email protected] Website: http://www.ipp.kg The publication was supported by grants from: OSI Assistance UK Embassy Foundation Almaty No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the Institute for Public Policy 3 № National ideology: forward or backward? NATIONAL IDEOLOGY: FORWARD OR BACKWARD? Muratbek Imanaliev * National ideology is a topic worth discussing, not merely the totality of highly educated peo- at least currently. Hence, the state recently ple; it is a highly qualifi ed group of people with became concerned with this issue: an ad hoc ideas, which will take the country out of crisis commission was set up, tasked with drafting a and lead it forward. However, it is important to project for Kyrgyzstan’s national ideology and remember that formation of elites is a matter of KYRGYZSTAN BRIEF Issue KYRGYZSTAN submitting it to the President and parliament by time. It is also known that national culture and February 20. Such a situation should be well religion are not hindering this process, unless known to middle aged and elderly people, par- the latter are dressed up ideologically, includ- alleling our recent history: a strive to send down ing forms such as chauvinism, nationalism, from above some sort of a “Code of a construc- fascism, etc. tor….” Probably, this code will be something of a combination (though not a synthesis) of Therefore, I will express a contradictory and traditionalism, liberalism, communism and, paradoxical view (which is debatable more- perhaps, nationalism. I suppose that the main over): National ideology should be de-ideolo- thesis of this intellectual product will resemble gized. the following: “The Kyrgyz national state will strengthen democracy and market economy, It is known that to build a competitive state, although strictly controlling these spheres by three mandatory elements are required: taking into account the traditions and history of 1) a socio-economic basis, 2) totality of cul- the Kyrgyz people.” tural values, and 3) behavioral parameters of the leaders of the nation. Perhaps, national ideology (if it is indeed need- ed) comprises certain cultural, political and A socio-economic basis, as I view it, means the economic reference points, which are formed formation of a socio-economic space which is on the basis of a national value system. How- harmoniously built into international economic ever, to be guided in this context by something relations. A socio-economic space is a national from the distant past means building an eth- economic culture which denies earning through nographic museum – a quasi-state, which will begging. be visited by a few foreign tourists – lovers of exotic. Cultural values are not necessarily only mate- rial and spiritual achievements. They are, fi rst To start with, it is obvious that we should ac- of all, a culture of interactions between people knowledge at the level of national conscious- of different categorical sectors. They are also a ness and perception the achievements of oth- culture of abiding laws, which unfortunately is ers. Rather than imitate and copy, we should lacking in Kyrgyzstan. Unless the question of learn what is considered to be advanced and “What is stronger in Kyrgyzstan – a law or progressive in the contemporary world, as Ja- family connections, a law or a phone call?” pan and other Asian states have done for ex- does not disappear from our lives (in favor of ample. Acknowledging other’s achievements law), there is no point in talking about abiding does not mean mechanically applying them laws. in one’s life and trying to become “civilized clones;” rather it means carefully and critically Behavioral parameters of leaders mean a be- absorbing the best features. It is only the intel- havioral culture of the elite, which is still non- lectual elite that can learn from other’s experi- existent in our country. Why leaders or elite in ence and achievements. The intellectual elite is particular? Because it is the leaders who lead * Muratbek Imanaliev is President of the Institute for Public Policy, Associate Professor of the American University-Central Asia. -2- 3 National ideology: forward or backward? № the people, and not vice versa. I am not talk- • cult of ancestors; ing about future generations and other things, • cult of family; which is related to the nonmaterial sphere of • cult of freedom; our people’s lives. • cult of law; • cult of education; In order to achieve the abovementioned goals, • cult of health. we should start with building or creating the fol- lowing foundations: 3. Seven freedoms: • freedom of the individual; • Self-identifi cation of the citizens of the • freedom of speech; country; BRIEF Issue KYRGYZSTAN • freedom of conscience; • Formation of elites; • freedom of choice; • Creation of a national value system. • freedom of movement; • freedom of owning property and handing it Self-identifi cation is a very complicated pro- down to children; cess. Ethnic, civic, economic, or cultural self- • freedom of fully enjoying one’s achieve- identifi cation – what comes fi rst? I believe we ments. should promote all. 4. Seven qualities: Political, economic, intellectual, military, or aca- demic elites – which is more important? I think • quality of individual persons; all are important. • quality of government; • quality of labor and its results; Formation of a national value system, as it ap- • quality of housing; pears to me, should start from the only correct • quality of nourishment; idea, related to identity and elites. That idea is • quality of water; the following: nation as co-citizenship, and re- • quality of land. sponsibility for each and all. 5. Seven senses: And the last question – why seven? The an- • sense of patriotism; swer is simple – seven is a lucky number for • sense of duty; Kyrgyzstan. • sense of solidarity; • sense of dignity; The following “Project for the future Kyrgyz- • sense of novelty and progress; stan” is a call for discussion and refl ection. • sense of justice; • sense of comfort and its achievement. Project for the future Kyrgyzstan 6. Seven conditions: 1. Seven priorities: • condition of unity; • priority of Kyrgyz statehood; • condition of forming and realizing the Na- • priority of forming and consolidating an “in- tional idea; ternal national power base;” • condition of possessing a national economic • priority of democratic government; culture; • priority of independent attitudes; • condition of the absence of hostile environ- •priority of complete integration into the inter- ment; national community; • condition of developing political, intellectual • priority of security and progress; and economic elites; • priority of mountains and water. • condition of balanced relations within a triangle of “individual-society-state” and of 2. Seven cults: forming a new behavioral culture; • cult of the future of the nation and belief in • condition of support on the part of the world God; community. -3- 3 № National ideology: choosing the direction 7. Seven evils: achievements; • evil of traditionalism. • evil of provincialism and marginal thinking; • evil of universal vulnerability; 50. We are no better and no worse than oth- • evil of alcoholism, drug addiction and crimi- ers. nality; • evil of laziness and dependence; • evil of excessive illusions and mythmaking; • evil of failing to acknowledge other’s KYRGYZSTAN BRIEF Issue KYRGYZSTAN NATIONAL IDEOLOGY: CHOOSING THE DIRECTION A roundtable on the topic of national ideology was held at the Institute for Public Policy on 22 Feb- ruary 2006. Ishenbai Abdurazakov, former State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic; Valentin Bo- gatyrev, Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, adviser of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, and Muratbek Imanaliev,