Understanding Peace Processes in the Aftermath of Ethnic Violence on the South of Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz and Uzbeks Happily Ever After?

Abstract

The contribution examines state peacebuilding initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, following four-day interethnic hostility in the southern capital, Osh. Though the original triggers of the four-day hostility remain highly contested the aftermath is much clearer. Thesis highlights that in Kyrgyzstan, peacebuilding activities are liable to nation-building projects. Building of the new civic identity therefore has become the engine of the consolidating peace. However, identity manipulation endangers fragile peace if it is exclusionary of minorities. To this end, first, nation-building as a prerequisite to sustainable peace is briefly introduced, with particular attention being paid to identity manipulation as the key concept in building nation. Next, study analyzes government peacebuilding initiatives, their short-term impact and illuminates state peace activities’ connection to nation-building. Fundamentally, this thesis argues that by aggressive fashion of promoting new common identity state authorities generate ethnonationalism or nationalism of exclusion. By imposing ethnic values of the larger ethnic group on other minorities, government officials harden ethnic identities of the dominated group. Hence, ethnic minorities have to defend themselves from such kind of policy by adopting nationalism of resistance. Thus laudable but ambitious project of nation-building to build peace galvanizes potential triggers of the deeper division between two ethnicities.