Democracy of Kyrgyzstan
Democracy of Kyrgyzstan
Is Kyrgyzstan a democratic country or is it still an authoritarian regime? Different experts might have different answers and opinions to this question. In order to find an accurate answer to this question, it is important to know profound definitions of both democracy and authoritarian regime. As a student who is still learning about democracy, I define democracy as a political system in which citizens have the power to elect politicians to present them, through a free and fair election. Also, I define an authoritarian regime as a political system in which government has the authority and the supreme power. In recent years several countries have made the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy. Kyrgyzstan was one of such country that became democratized in the very recent days. Kyrgyzstan became democratized mainly because of the political, technological and economic changes that occurred within the county between 1991- 2010; however, during the transition process Kyrgyzstan faced a number of huge problems, which would possibly continue at least for another few years before Kyrgyzstan can settle down as a successful democratic country.
Political changes that took place since the independence of Kyrgyzstan in 1991 played an important role in Kyrgyzstan’s transition from an authoritarian regime to a country of democracy. In 1991 Kyrgyzstan gained its independence after being a part of Soviet Union for about 70 years. In 1991 Askar Akayev became the President of Kyrgyzstan and his government soon introduced new economic and political systems to Kyrgyzstan. Akayev’s government believed that their new approaches would lead Kyrgyzstan to democratization in the few coming years. This was the initial step of the transition towards democratization. However, during the period of 1991-1994 these changes did not have much impact on their goal to become a democratic country. That was mainly because Kyrgyzstan was not ready for democracy
Is Kyrgyzstan a democratic country or is it still an authoritarian regime? Different experts might have different answers and opinions to this question. In order to find an accurate answer to this question, it is important to know profound definitions of both democracy and authoritarian regime. As a student who is still learning about democracy, I define democracy as a political system in which citizens have the power to elect politicians to present them, through a free and fair election. Also, I define an authoritarian regime as a political system in which government has the authority and the supreme power. In recent years several countries have made the transition from an authoritarian regime to democracy. Kyrgyzstan was one of such country that became democratized in the very recent days. Kyrgyzstan became democratized mainly because of the political, technological and economic changes that occurred within the county between 1991- 2010; however, during the transition process Kyrgyzstan faced a number of huge problems, which would possibly continue at least for another few years before Kyrgyzstan can settle down as a successful democratic country.
Political changes that took place since the independence of Kyrgyzstan in 1991 played an important role in Kyrgyzstan’s transition from an authoritarian regime to a country of democracy. In 1991 Kyrgyzstan gained its independence after being a part of Soviet Union for about 70 years. In 1991 Askar Akayev became the President of Kyrgyzstan and his government soon introduced new economic and political systems to Kyrgyzstan. Akayev’s government believed that their new approaches would lead Kyrgyzstan to democratization in the few coming years. This was the initial step of the transition towards democratization. However, during the period of 1991-1994 these changes did not have much impact on their goal to become a democratic country. That was mainly because Kyrgyzstan was not ready for democracy
Bibliography: Christian Boehm. 1994 “Democracy in Kyrgyzstan” Accessed November 1. http://www.anthrobase.com/Txt/B/Boehm_C_01.htm Martin Slann. “Introduction to Politics: Governments and Nations in the Twenty-First Century.” (Thomson Learning 2008) Nick Megorn. “Kyrgyzstan: Country Profile.” New Internationalist (2002); Academic Search Premier, AN 6657677. Accessed through American University library Office of the Press Secretary. “Statement by president Obama on Parliamentary election of Kyrgyzstan.” Accessed November 1. http://m.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/10/11/statement-president-obama Otunbayeva Roza. “Kyrgyzstan’s Tulip Revolution.” Demokratizatsiya, Volume 13, Issue 4 (2005); Academic Search Premier, AN 2001932. Accessed through American University library Ruta Nimkar. “Democracy: A Step Forward in Kyrgyzstan.” Yale Journal of International affairs. October 18, 2010. http://yalejournal.org/2010/10/democracy-a-step-forward-in-kyrgyzstan/ Svetlana Kulikova and David Perlmutter, “The Kyrgyz Revolution and Samizdat Websites,” The International Communication Gazette (Sage Publications 2007):29-50