Journal of Eurasian Studies - EPA

April‐June 2010 JOURNAL OF EURASIAN STUDIES Volume II., Issue 2.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
URMANBETOVA, Jyldyz
Revolt and Transition in Kyrgyz Society: Reflections on Recent
Economic, Political and Social Change
The revolt in April 2010 in the Kyrgyz Republic showed that Kyrgyzstan is a country which for two
decades reflected stable contradictions and which was very popular as a country of the Tulip or Rose
revolution.
What is this country all about? What are the reasons of these recent developments? As an answer I can
illustrate our present situation. The reasons of the second popular revolt in the Kyrgyz Republic can be
divided into political, economic, and social:
I. Political – in the country there is fundamental power vacuum, its source being in the conflict of
interest between the president and the opposition. This opinion is backed by following facts:
1) During the past years the Kyrgyz Republic witnessed a process of the president’s power
absolutization. The president would like to change the constitution of the country.
2) President K. Bakiev curtailed the possibilities of the opposition forces.
3) At the time of April’s revolt the opposition could unite to oppose the president.
4) The very strong tribalism – the president´s large family in involved in the state affairs.
5) The political elite´s and the masses´ level of political culture is fairly low and not uniform; there are
segments of different political culture.
6) Political regionalism – differences between North and South and their representatives in the power
structure.
II. Economic ‐ Kyrgyzstan has witnessed a constant economic crisis for a long time – for two decades
after proclaiming the sovereignty. The most important crisis is the energy crisis, which influences most
the masses´ social activities. In the past, during the Soviet period Kyrgyzstan was the first country in the
Central Asian region, which supplied electricity to other republics; now blackouts of electricity are
common. Second – a process of privatization of the main objects of electric power block in the last months
took place.
III. Social ‐ impairment of people’s life:
* Higher tariffs for utilities;
* Increased tuition;
* Low salary;
* High unemployment among young people;
* Internal migration.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
© Copyright Mikes International 2001‐2010 121