[Bilimsel Haber] PUBL.- Reports from Social Research Center, AUCA, Bishkek

[Gonul Pultar]

PUBL.- Reports from Social Research Center, AUCA, Bishkek

Posted by: Social Research Center <src at mail.auca.kg>



Dear Colleagues;

We are glad to bring you the next issue of electronic bulletin
presented by the Social Research Center (SRC) at the American
University of Central Asia (AUCA). This bulletin provides the updates
on the SRC's latest electronic publications.

The SRC is a research unit of AUCA. Its mission is to promote the
long-lasting development of principals and practices of democracy,
free market, rule of law, and social equality in Kyrgyzstan through
research, publications, interdisciplinary studies, conferences,
roundtables, and networking. SRC mainly focuses on four target areas:
MIGRATION, ISLAM, NGO DEVELOPMENT and CORRUPTION.

For more detailed information about SRC, please visit our website at
www.src.auca.kg.


IN THIS ISSUE, please find papers and research project reports on:

NGO DEVELOPMENT:

NGOs in Policy-making Process in Kyrgyzstan: Contemporary Practices
and Legal Barriers, by Sheradil Baktygulov

NGOs in Monitoring and Assessment of The State Development Strategy,
by Maksatbek Tashbolotov

Status of Social Partnerships between the Government and NGOs in the
Kyrgyz Republic: An Assessment of Efficiency by Altynai Arstanbekova

Profile of an NGO Leader, by Galina Plakhotnikova and Aida Kurbanova

MIGRATION:

The Policy of Exporting The Labor Force: Challenges for Kyrgyzstan, by
Anar Musabaeva

Student Research Project: Discrimination of Internal Migrants in
Bishkek, SRC research project report, supervised by Emil Nasritdinov

Analysis of Violation of Labour Migrants' Rights in Russia and
Kyrgyzstan, by Nurdin Tynaev


ISLAM

Student Research Project: "Political Islam: Ideological Orientations
of Youth in Bishkek" SRC research project report, supervised by Dr.
Kadyr Malikov

Teaching of Religion Studies in Secondary Schools and Universities in
Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and the Ways to Overcome, by Dr. Dilaram Akramova

Religious Identity of Women in Traditional "Mahallas" of Contemporary
Uzbekistan: Challenges and Ways to Overcome, by Shahnoza Madaeva

Righteous Woman - Blessing of this World! By Daniyar Muradilov

CORRUPTION

Judicial Corruption: Its Nature, Scale and Ways of Coping with It, by
Kairat Osmonaliev

Corruption in the System of Higher Education: Sources, Scale and Ways
to Overcome, by Erkaim Mambetalieva

Corruption in Financial System of Kyrgyzstan, by Bahtiyar Bakas uulu

Reduction of Regulatory-Administrative Barriers to the Development of
Entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan: Major Results and Unsolved Problems, by
Kubanychbek Omuraliev


NGO DEVELOPMENT:

NGOs in Policy-making Process in Kyrgyzstan: Contemporary Practices
and Legal Barriers, by Sheradil Baktygulov, Independent expert, SRC

The NGO sector represents a very proactive portion of the population
and experts with high levels of competence. The question high on
today's agenda is "how can the potential of NGOs be made relevant to
ensure that the development goals of the country and society are
achieved in an efficient and effective manner?" Today then NGO sector
fails to systematically participate in producing and defining
strategies and plans for national, sectoral, or regional development.
Examples show that NGO participation in these processes is contingent
on the will of officials in government ministries and agencies. Often,
the purpose of such collaboration is to create a semblance of expert
appraisal of a draft piece of legislation or strategy with the
involvement of NGO members. The nation lacks a mechanism for
incorporating alternative viewpoints, which would enable NGOs to
become real actors in the process of defining appropriate avenues for
development.
The purpose of this study is to examine NGO participation in
decision-making with regard to issues of public concern. To understand
this problem and attempt to solve it, we must address three tasks.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Sheradil_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Sheradil_rus.pdf


NGOs in Monitoring and Assessment of The State Development Strategy,
by Maksatbek Tashbolotov, Director, Public Foundation "Kalys Consult"

Since the first days of independence, Kyrgyzstan has sought ways to
increase economic growth. What is the country's leadership doing in
present conditions? It is looking for opportunities to attract
investments from international donors, and developing programs to
improve the socioeconomic situation in the country. During its years
of sovereignty Kyrgyzstan has developed many national and regional
development programs, strategies and concepts. Currently, the Republic
has over 275 conceptual and policy papers.
The most important are the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF)
and the National Poverty Reduction Strategy (NPRS). This paper
analyzes the role of NGOs in contributing to the effective system of
monitoring and evaluation of the Country Development Strategy.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Tashbolotov_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Tashbolotov_rus.pdf


Status of Social Partnerships between the Government and NGOs in the
Kyrgyz Republic: An Assessment of Efficiency by Altynai Arstanbekova,
Program Coordinator, Public Association Counterpart-Sheriktesh

The relevance of social partnerships between key actors in
Kyrgyzstan's society-the government and NGOs-is clearly evident in the
context of current reforms and the country's continued development.
Civil society, institutions that comprise voluntary public
associations, trade unions, charitable and other organizations, is
crucial to social partnerships. Nongovernmental organizations often
bear the ultimate responsibility for formulating problems
(particularly social and economic problems) and presenting them to
social partners, i.e. the state and the capital sectors.  An ongoing
efficiency assessment of social partnerships between the state and
NGOs in the Kyrgyz Republic demonstrates that practices of successful
cooperation exist alongside some obstacles. This is a natural result
of the development of a social partnership system. At this time,
efforts must be focused on optimizing laws that address socio-economic
problems. In this environment, an effective model of social
partnership would involve broad participation of non-governmental
actors in law-making through the deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh
(Kyrgyz parliament).

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Altynai_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Altynai_rus.pdf


Profile of an NGO Leader, by Galina Plahotnikova and Aida Kurbanova,
Association of Civil Society Support Centers

Currently, Kyrgyzstan has several thousand NGOs: Kyrgyzstan's Ministry
of Justice reports that, as of 1 April 2006. More than 8,000
non-governmental organizations were registered in the Republic. Most
of these organizations are personified-- that is, the operations of
the NGO are commonly linked to its leader. During its formation and
development, the country's NGO sector has gone through several phases,
which institutionalized NGO leadership and contributed to its gradual
transformation. Nonetheless, institutionalization of leadership and
the rotation of leaders in the NGO sector remain highly relevant,
posing challenges for continued development of nongovernmental 
organizations.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Plakhot_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Plahotn_rus.pdf


MIGRATION

The Policy of Exporting The Labor Force: Challenges for Kyrgyzstan, by
Anar Musabaeva, Independent expert

Previous studies identified the many challenges of achieving efficient
implementation of policies of labor migration. The main challenges are
a) problems of marketing the labor force and studying trends of
development in domestic and foreign labor markets, and b) the problem
of the high cost and complexity of reorienting the
vocational-education system to reflect market conditions.
Concurrently, labor migration removes from Kyrgyzstan workers of
high-demand trades; the domestic labor market is characterized by this
kind of increasing distortion.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Mus_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Musabaeva_rus.pdf


Student Research Project: Discrimination of Internal Migrants in
Bishkek, SRC research project report, supervised by Emil Nasritdinov
and Students of the Sociology and Anthropology Departments, AUCA

To understand the patterns of discrimination the research has to look
into various aspects of migrants' life. It is not common for Central
Asian communities to expose their negative sides; visitors are always
shown more positive, bright and marry things. This goes back to the
culturally rooted practices of hospitality. The capital of Kyrgyzstan
- Bishkek - just like its southern cousin Osh and the life of its
residents are structured in a similar way. Many negative aspects of
our life in this metropolis are hidden on its outskirts and in some
marginalized enclaves within the city, where regular residents hardly go to.

Download REPORT in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/report_discr_intern_migr_eng%20.pdf


Analysis of Violation of Labour Migrants' Rights in Russia and
Kyrgyzstan, by Nurdin Tynaev, Director of Net of Centers on Assistance
to Labor Migrants

According to various estimates, more than 450 thousand citizens of the
Kyrgyz republic are working abroad; more than half work in Russia,
50-80 thousand work in Kazakhstan, while the rest work in other
countries. Few guest workers from the former Soviet republics in
Russia can protect their rights and legitimate interests, such as free
movement within the territory of the host country, registration in
immigration records, obtaining work permit, legal employment
registration (that is, signing a labor contract), the right to get a
medical examination, and these workers appeal to the relevant
authorities to protect their rights that have been violated by
governmental bodies and private individuals.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Tynaev_eng.pdf

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Nurdin_Tynaev_rus.pdf


ISLAM

Student Research Project: "Political Islam: Ideological Orientations
of Youth in Bishkek" SRC research project report, supervised by Dr.
Kadyr Malikov, Thematic Team Leader on Islam, SRC, AUCA and students
of the Sociology and American Studies Departments, AUCA

The main purpose of this study was to examine the religious-political
preferences among young people in Bishkek, especially the degree of
their perception of Islam as an ideological and political system.
Another purpose was to reveal the views of Bishkek's young people
toward the state's two ideological systems-- religion and secularism--
and whether if they interact or conflict. A primary goal of this study
was to present an objective vision of Islam as an ideological and
political system, in light of its growing religious influence on young 
people.

Download REPORT in English here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/report_polit_islam_eng.pdf

Download REPORT in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/report_polit_islam_rus.pdf


Teaching of Religion Studies in Secondary Schools and Universities in
Kyrgyzstan: Challenges and the Ways to Overcome, by Dr. Dilaram
Akramova, Osh State University, Theological Department

There are religious schools in Kyrgyzstan today but there is no system
of religious education, and the priorities in designing the school
curricula have not been defined. There is no due attention to the
problem of improving the education level of practicing clergy, as well
as the training of new specialists with sound knowledge of religion
and secular sciences. There is an urgent need to develop the
curriculum for a course of "Religious Studies" for secular schools and
universities of the country and to educate people in religious matters
in order to prevent religious extremism and eliminate stereotypes
about various religious schools. This lack of basic knowledge of
religion among Kyrgyzstan citizens makes religion a matter of
political, social and other conflicts.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Nurdin_Tynaev_rus.pdf


Religious Identity of Women in Traditional "Mahallas" of Contemporary
Uzbekistan: Challenges and Ways to Overcome, by Shahnoza Madaeva,
Candidate of Philosophy, Associate Professor of the National
University of Uzbekistan

Female Muslim religiosity and its transformation in modern Uzbekistan
is an urgent problem which requires analysis and expert judgments.
This topic is important since it concerns all aspects of social life -
from everyday routines to state policy. It comprehensively covers the
new role of Islam in the region, and also the possible perspectives
and tendencies for the Uzbek community as a whole.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Shahnoza_rus.pdf


Righteous Woman - Blessing of this World! By Daniyar Muradilov,
Institute of Strategic Research, Kyrgyz Russian Slavonic University,
Expert on Theology

At the moment, there is an active religious renaissance. The number of
religious youth is increasing, and a substantial part of the faithful
is women. From this perspective, the important question is how women
treat religion. Special attention must be paid to the question of the
status of women in society. Some believe that there is a contradiction
between the principles of the religious regulation of women's lives
and their efforts to gain equal rights in modern society. In the view
of author, such thinking is based on stereotypes about women in
general and women in Islam, in particular.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Shahnoza_rus.pdf


CORRUPTION

Judicial Corruption: Its Nature, Scale and Ways of Coping with It, by
Kairat Osmonaliev, Doctor of Law, Head of the Yurinfo Legal Clinic

It is necessary to admit that corruption in the judicial system is
very destructive for a society, since it deprives citizens of the last
hopes for justice. It is not a secret that unfair court decisions in
favor of certain pro-presidential candidates for the Jogorku Kenesh
(parliament) of Kyrgyzstan provoked mass protests. In 2005, this
resulted in the fall of the political regime. Besides, as the practice
shows, foreign and local investors are reluctant to do business in the
country because of the unpredictable results of legal proceedings.
Obviously, the corrupt judicial system makes it impossible to struggle
against corruption in other state bodies.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Osmonaliev_rus.pdf


Corruption in the System of Higher Education: Sources, Scale and Ways
to Overcome, by Erkaim Mambetalieva, Northern Regional Representative
of the Kyrgyz Republic's Agency on Preventing Corruption

Corruption has become a global challenge, creating serious threats to
the stability and security of societies. It undermines democratic
institutions and values, weakens ethical values and fairness, and
damages sustainable development and law and order. Corruption is one
of the most important issues in contemporary Kyrgyzstan, which has
impeded efforts to solve the country's most important economical and
political issues. It weakens the legitimacy of the government's
authority in the eyes of its citizens, leads to the degradation of
society, and damages the image of our country in the contemporary
world. This situation is exacerbated by the fact that corruption has
penetrated the sphere of higher education, which will threaten all
spheres of human activity in the future:

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Erkaiym_rus.pdf


Corruption in Financial System of Kyrgyzstan, by Bahtiyar Bakas uulu,
an analyst at the Institute of Economic Strategies, Central Asia

The major danger of corruption in Kyrgyzstan's financial system is
that it threatens the economic security of the country. Factors such
as excessive foreign debt and the "empty" state budget greatly
contribute to the corrupt nature of the financial system, and as a
result the country has turned into an attractive off-shore financial
center to launder money:

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/Bakas_uulu_rus.pdf


Reduction of Regulatory-Administrative Barriers to the Development of
Entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan: Major Results and Unsolved Problems,
by Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Executive Director of Kyrgyz
Parliamentarians Against Corruption

Entrepreneurship is one of the major goals of reforms aimed at
creating effective economic systems, and one of the components
necessary for the successful development of a state as a whole. To
develop entrepreneurship, in turn, it is necessary to reduce
regulatory-administrative barriers such as high tax burdens, frequent
and groundless inspections, unstable and unpredictable business
regulations; legislation gaps; and unwieldy customs regulations. Such
barriers, in one way or another, promote corruption in Kyrgyzstan and
create an unhealthy atmosphere for the development of businesses.

Download ARTICLE in English here:
(English version will be available on-line (www.src.auca.kg) by the
end of December 2008)

Download ARTICLE in Russian here:
http://src.auca.kg/images/stories/files/K_Omuraliev_rus.pdf




Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian 
Studies