Minorities in Central Asia
Welcome to neweurasia’s latest regional survey - and as usual we’re glad to have many of our bloggers write about one specific topic. This time around, we’re looking at some of the various minorities in Central Asia. Unity in diversity seems to be the motto then, as not a lot can be more multi-faceted than a survey on the region’s rich ethnic tapestry.
Without further ado, then, let’s have a look at what’s been written by our authors all around our blogs:
We’re especially grateful to the two external bloggers who have contributed to this survey:
Russian-Germans in Tajikistan: J. Otto Pohl traces the little-known history of the Russian-German minority in Tajikistan over the 20th century.
Of Minorities and Their Warlords: Josh Foust casts some light at Afghan warlords that from the 80’s onward established their own ethnic enclaves.
Up in Smoke: Ted Callahan, Research Fellow at the AUCA, provides are rare glimpse into the little-known Afghan Pamirs and the Kyrgyz communities dwelling this remote stretch of land.
Perceptions of Identity - Luli in Samarkand: Nafisa dares to violate taboo: she visits the Luli, Central Asian Romas, whose community has been marginalised in her hometown of Samarkand.
“We’re all in the same boat now”: Claire is concerned that the socio-economic situation in Kyrgyzstan will aggrevate interethnic tensions.
Ethnic Kyrgyz in Tajikistan: Vadim climbs to high altitude and introduces Tajikistan’s Kyrygz living in the harsh conditions of the Pamirs.
We Are Different, Yet Together: Tolkun Umaraliev reports from his hometown Osh, where Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations have been difficult in the past. Ways to improve the situation might be found in neighbouring Uzbekistan
Evolving as a minority – Russians in Kyrgyzstan: Yulia gives her sobering comment on the state of the ethnic Russians in Kyrgyzstan, many of whom will certainly leave the country in the future.
Russian-Germans from Kazakhstan returning home: Back in 2006, Ben posted two stories about the fate of those Russian-Germans who have returned to their ancestral homeland (Post 1 - Post 2).
Chechens in Kazakhstan: Adam provides an insight into the history and status of the Chechen community in Kazakhstan.
Street as a school for Luli children: An anonymous author from Uzbekistan tells how it is to be a Luli child in Uzbek society.
Russians in Uzbekistan: Girl of the Sand speaks about those few Russians left in Uzbekistan. She says that there is an increasing nostalgia about everything Russian as a result.
on March 29th, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Did anyone else notice that these surveys are almost all about the Kyrgyz? Five of the stories involve them in some way.
I’m not complaining by any stretch, I just find it remarkable that so many explorations of the Kyrgyz turned up this time around.