Kyrgyzstan - Regime Security and Foreign Policy

Kyrgyzstan is an interesting example of a relatively weak state, but one where the regime has remained intact despite the fact that its military is scrupulously neutral, rather than pro-regime, and despite ethnic conflict between Uzbeks and Kyrgyz. This book explores this apparent paradox and argues that Kyrgyzstan’s foreign policy and international relationships are key to understanding the nature of the Kyrgyz state. It shows how the foreign policy links to the Manas Air Base, used by the US military, and the economic arrangements necessary for sustaining the base, combine to overshadow points of friction to ensure stable continuance of the status quo.

Kyrgyzstan is an interesting example of a relatively weak state, which for its brief period of independence has already ousted two presidents, experienced two revolutions, survived two interethnic conflicts and yet remained intact. This book explores this apparent paradox and argues that the schism between domestic and international dimensions of state and regime security is key to understanding the nature of Kyrgyz politics. The book shows how the foreign policy links to the Manas Air Base, used by the US military and essential for supplying their forces in Afghanistan, the economic arrangements necessary for sustaining the base, both inside and outside Kyrgyzstan, and the myriad of different actors involved in all this, combined to overshadow points of friction to ensure stable continuance of the status quo. Overall, the book shows how broad geopolitical forces and complex local factors together have a huge impact on the formation of Kyrgyz foreign policy.