Post-Liberal Statebuilding in Central Asia

Abstract

To Polina, with all my love vii Contents List of Figures and Tables viii Notes on Transliteration and Language ix Acknowledgements x 1The people to be thanked first are the protagonists of this research: research participants, conversation partners, interlocutors and all those ready to invite me to get to know their initiatives, projects, organizations and points of view. I am most grateful for your openness and trust and hope that the dialogue that has unfolded will continue further to new horizons. The research experience was especially enriching thanks to Alexey, Timur, and further unnamed people who patiently answered my questions, read multiple draft documents and enabled key insights. The research assistance and translation skills of Gulniza Taalaibekova and Meerim Saipova helped to broaden the perspective of the project, and the hospitality and supportive atmosphere at the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek was a backbone during the fieldwork period.Second most important are the fellow travellers and comrades who have helped shape this work and made it possible to endure the institutionalized injustice of academia while remaining defiant and hoping for a better future.