Historical Dictionary of Kyrgyzstan (Volume 49) (Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East, 49)

This is an essential and must-to-have reference work designed for librarians, scholars, students, for the business and policy-making community, and for anyone interested in Kyrgyzstan's contemporary history and politics. Entries cover important personalities, places, events, and institutions in Kyrgyzstan, as well as important political, economic, social and cultural issues, which dominated domestic and international politics of this Central Asia state. The modern history of Kyrgyzstan resembles a fascinating history of the Great Game (a term used to describe competition between the British and Russian Empires for domination in Central Asia). For centuries, various great powers and nomadic Khanates attempted to establish an ultimate control over this strategically important land, and the land populated by Kyrgyzs was fragmented between various political entities. Only at the end of the 19th century did the Russian Empire finally acquire control over this region. In 1924 the Kyrgyz land was united into a single political entity in the controversial and still widely debated border delimitation process. In 1991 Kyrgyzstan declared its independence and began building a democratic and market-oriented state. However, very soon the newly independent country found itself in the center of the political competition for influence between such powers as China, Russia and the USA. This competition finally landed the US and Russian military airbases in Kyrgyzstan's territory in what some analysts describe as a new round of the Great Game. The Historical Dictionary of Kyrgystan provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the historical development of Kyrgyzstan. The introduction and chronology provide an overview of the Kyrgyz history, focusing on the history of the country in the 20th century. The author carefully assesses the key issues in Kyrgyzstan's attempt to develop democratic and market-oriented institutions, and to keep militant elements at a bay. He overviews the growth of political organizations and NGOs and the struggle for power between various formal and informal political groups and institutions. This is the first comprehensive reference book on Kyrgyzstan, which provides superb up-to-date details about the key players and key issues in contemporary domestic and international politics of Kyrgyzstan. The dictionary consists of approximately 300 entries and is cross-referenced to make sure that it is easy to use by both experienced scholars and young students interested in a complicated and captivating history of Kyrgyzs and Kyrgyz land. The substantial bibliography will help readers to find materials and resources in specialized subject areas. The Historical Dictionary Of Kyrgyzstan Is The First Comprehensive Reference Book On This Pivotal Country, Providing Up-to-date Details About The Key Players And Issues In Contemporary Domestic And International Politics. The Dictionary Consists Of Approximately 300 Entries And Is Cross-referenced For Ease Of Use By Both Experienced Scholars And Young Students Interested In The Complicated And Captivating History Of Kyrgyzs And The Kyrgyz Land. The Substantial Bibliography Will Assist Readers In Finding Materials And Resources In Specialized Subject Areas.--jacket. Rafis Abazov. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 343-379). Contents......Page 6 Editor’s Foreword by Jon Woronoff vii......Page 8 Reader’s Notes ix......Page 10 Acronyms and Abbreviations xv......Page 16 Maps xvii......Page 18 Chronology xix......Page 20 Introduction......Page 36 THE DICTIONARY 49......Page 84 Appendix A: Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic 261......Page 296 Appendix B: Tables 317......Page 352 Bibliography 343......Page 378 About the Author 381......Page 416 When it became independent in 1991, Kyrgyzstan quickly resumed a position of strategic importance that it hadn't known since the Great Game of the 19th century. Abazov provides a detailed analysis of this new country and of the turbulent past that is the heritage of its people.