Defective Democracy and Increasing Environmental Activism in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

This thesis argues that environmental awareness does not depend on the political regime type. The conceptual contribution of the thesis invites researchers to reconsider the link between societies and the regime created by environment. Conventional theories argue that environmental activism is inherent to democracies only. On top of it, democracy indexes tell a story of a declining democracy, altogether this designates the absence of environmental awareness and activism in the country. Moreover, this suggests that the rising protests around environmental issues carry political implications. However, the thesis offers a different story on the environmental protests. The case of Kyrgyzstan showcases features of grassroots environmental and cultural awareness expressed through political means.