The main goal of this ongoing research project is to analyze existing scholarship on Central Asian civil society. The main focus will be on NGOs in Kyrgyzstan as examples of established strong institutions of civil society in the Central Asian region. Matikeeva argues that Kyrgyzstan’s civil society was “planted” by international NGOs as push (f)actors towards democratization. Overall NGOs have operated under favorable social conditions. At the same time civil society organizations in today’s Kyrgyzstan are now facing significant institutional challenges. How do international scholars characterize these challenges? How do they assess the perspectives of civil society in Kyrgyzstan and the broader Central Asian region?
Sairagul Matikeeva is candidate of political sciences (kandidat nauk), Dotsent at the International University of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek. Author of the monograph “Institutionalization of nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan (1991-2004)” (Bishkek, 2009); and, about 20 research articles in international and national journals on NGOs, civil society issues in Central Asia, with a special focus on Kyrgyzstan. Sairagul Matikeeva is an Alumna of JFDP, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. State Department, and ACTR/ACCELS (2007-2008, North Carolina University at Chapel Hill).