https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/57 Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:29:00 GMT 2025-11-07T15:29:00Z https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/133 Title: Neo-Orientalism, Islam and Extremism Authors: Kaparova, Zhanygul Abstract: States and societies worldwide have been facing the real and perceived threats of Islamic extremism and terrorism associated with the rise of such non-state actors, organizations and movements as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Al-Qaida, Al-Shabaab, and the Taliban, among others. The potential threats of growing Islamism, radicalization and extremism in Central Asia has also become a popular discourse in international media, policy circles and academia in both the East and the West. This Thesis analyzes the views, perceptions and portrayal of Islam and extremism in Central Asia by Western scholars and think tanks, Central Asian researchers, and at least one of the region’s governments. The Thesis studies the applicability and relevance of the phenomena of “neo-Orientalism” as affecting research on Central Asia and Islam, with a focus on the case of Kyrgyzstan. It also examines the reports of the International Crisis Group (ICG) and opinions of Western and local academics on the subject matter. The Thesis concludes that the perspectives on Islam and religious extremism are often tinged with what can be described as preconceived subjective notions, lacking sufficient logic and empiricism and can be categorized as being influenced by the phenomenon of neo-Orientalism. However, this Thesis shows that there are other beliefs and factors that may cause improper portrayal of the subject in the region. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/133 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/132 Title: NATO’s Raison D’être After the Cold War Authors: Abdieva, Yrys Abstract: The aim of this Thesis is to analyze how the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) perceived threats have changed since the end of the Cold War and what reasonings NATO and others bring for its continued existence in the 21st century. To do so, the Thesis chronologically explores NATO’s perception of threats to its members in the post-Cold War era, in addition to independent scholars’ opinions on NATO’s continued existence. Using a combined methodology of comparative discourse analysis of 22 speeches of NATO Secretary Generals (1990-2016) and six indepth interviews with NATO officials experts, it was determined that unlike the Cold War when the primary threat was viewed by NATO as the USSR and thus singular, in the post-Cold War era, the Alliance’s threat perceptions have been multiple. Analysis of NATO Secretary Generals’ speeches revealed that in the post-Cold War era, the word “Russia” was spoken 122 times with a negative connotations and “terrorism” 70 times, while a significant stress was also put on possible “future” threats to the Alliance members. The study revealed that NATO’s perceived threats after the Cold War have evolved from ethnic conflicts in the Balkans to terrorism, to Russian aggression in Georgia and Ukraine and to undetermined future insecurities. The combination of these threats were considered as the determinants of NATO’s raison d’être after the Cold War. This study also found that there are differences in justifying NATO’s existence with some scholars disagreeing with NATO’s official justifications of politico-humanitarian reasons of conflict resolution, democratizing, peace-inducing, and combating terrorism and rouge states, arguing, instead, that NATO exists to dominate Europe, to earn profits from weapons sales for its powerful members, and to deter Russia in what some perceive as the reality of a “New Cold War.” Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/132 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/131 Title: The Enigma of Islamic Scholarship Promotion by the Uzbek Government Authors: Khaydarov, Yorkinjon Abstract: Despite the repressive policy towards dissident Muslims, after 2000, the Uzbek government started to allow publishing Islamic religious books in Uzbekistan. In the last five to six years, this process has accelerated significantly. It is not easy to determine how many religious books have been published in Uzbekistan since 2000. The only clear thing is there are not many authors who can write and publish Islamic books given that only several authors who have undergone official religious education and given permission by responsible state organs can publish their books. This Thesis aims at studying what kind of religious books have been published during the independence years in Uzbekistan and analyzing the reasons behind the promotion of Islamic scholarship by the Uzbek government. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/131 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/130 Title: Kazakhstan’s Embrace of the Green Economy: Paradigm Shift or Wishful Thinking? Authors: Kassym, Yerlan Abstract: Since gaining independence in 1991, Kazakhstan has achieved significant economic development in terms of macroeconomic growth, market liberalization and infrastructural improvement. These economic achievements have been primarily because of favorable conditions of global markets for the main export products of the country: oil; natural gas; and commodities such as metals, wheat, gold, and uranium, which provided for abundant state revenues. Stable economic growth has also led to political stability and legitimacy for the country’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Since 2015, however, Kazakhstan has been affected by the glut of global supply of gas and oil, in turn leading to a massive drop by around 50% in prices for Kazakhstan’s main export commodities and sharp drops in government revenues. Financial shortfalls occurred coincidentally when the government first introduced its concept of the Green Economy. This thesis analyzes the concept of “Transition of Kazakhstan to Green Economy” that was adopted in 2013 and has been being implemented by the Kazakh government ever since. Considering the strong dependence of the Kazakhstani economy on oil, gas and other natural resources and execution of major petroleum projects that provide most of State income, it becomes questionable how successful the Green Economy transition will be. This Thesis is aimed at answering the question of what the real driver for adopting Green Economy in Kazakhstan is and how doable it is in current realities. The author assumes that Kazakhstan is not ready yet to fulfill its commitments for a transition to the Green Economy and justifies it with discourse analysis, expert interviews, in addition to economic and environmental data analyses. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT https://mt.osce-academy.kg/handle/123456789/130 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z