Contemporary Kyrgyzstan

A visitor to Kyrgyzstan today is faced with a complex society which resembles a jigsaw.  Each piece of the puzzle is a different size, shape, and portrays a different part of the overall picture.  Each piece on their own tells part of the story but it is only when they are put together that the whole picture can be seen and really understood.  Some of those pieces offer contrasting (and even conflicting) aspects of the overall picture which can lead to confusion and create tensions, whilst others are complementary to each other and fit well together.

Some aspects of contemporary Kyrgyzstan are shaped by the geography, (such as the mountain ranges which straddle the country); the climate; the wildlife; historical events and characters; the religion (as varied as Shamanism, Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Islam and Orthodox Christianity) and cultures of the people - not only the Kyrgyz themselves but of the myriad of nationalities that have passed through the territory over the centuries, each leaving their mark on subsequent generations.

Perhaps the best example of these how these various elements combine is in the list of official public holidays celebrated in the country, which combine festivals of three diverse religions, (Zoroastrianism: Noruz, Islam: Orozo Ait and Kurman Ait and Christianity: Orthodox Christmas), along with secular celebrations, (such as New Year) and Socialist holidays inherited from the Soviet Union, (International Women's Day, International Workers' Day - May Day, Defenders of the Nation Day - Army Day), celebrations of historical events, (Victory Day commemorating the end of the Second World War and even the Bolshevik "October Revolution" in 1917) as well as important events in the life of this young country (Independence Day, Constitution Day, Peoples' Revolution Day - marking the anniversary of the "Tulip Revolution" in 2005).

Elements of traditional nomadic culture sit side by side with aspects of the modern world.  It can seem strange, for example, to sit in a concert and see traditional instruments like the komuz and temir komuz share the same stage as the accordion and the electric violin.  As well as traditional folk music opera, ballet, and concerts of classical music, jazz, pop, rap and rock can all be encountered and are all highly prized.   The traditional sports practiced by the nomadic herdsmen usually involve horses and horsemanship and may be something that could be expected to be encountered in a circus, but the country has also produced champion boxers, wrestlers and other sportsmen who have acquitted themselves well in a wide variety of disciplines such as football, and even ballroom dancing and although landlocked the country boasts a solo ocean rower, and sends competitors to sailing competitions.  Although traditional crafts often involve manufacturing objects out of wool or other natural materials with stylized patterns, there are Kyrgyz graphic artists whose works have been exhibited in exhibitions around the world and attract high prices.   A yurt sits happily beside a modern apartment block, and a Zhiguilu, (or even Mercedes), may be parked outside a yurt in a jailoo - a high mountain meadow. 

The country is often referred to as a "transition economy" - one in the process of making the transformation from the central command economy of the former Soviet Union to one that embraces the Free Market Economy of the Western World, with all that this entails in terms of governance and social and political reform.  In 2008 the government undertook a conscious decision to improve its ranking in the international "Doing Business" survey and managed to improve its position by removing regulations and introducing reforms to such an extent that it was hailed as having the most improved business environment in the world for that year.    

In this section of the Information pack we consider some of these social, economic and political aspects of this kaleidoscope which comprises contemporary Kyrgyzstan.