Civil Society in Central Asia

Preface

Preface The analytical essays in the first part ofthis book are in large part the product ofa two-day conference held in 1998 and organized by the Center for Civil Society International and the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the Nitze School ofAdvanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, in Washington, D.C. At that conference, a wide variety of issues and views were considered, and debate was sometimes lively and hard-hitting. In the spirit of free inquiry, we did not seek a single, authoritative position regarding how to view Central Asia, particularly with respect to issues of civil society and democratic participation. The essays in the book reflect a wide range ofperspectives , themes, concerns, and experiences; and no essay should be taken to represent the views ofthe conference, the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, or Center for Civil Society International. Similarly, the inclusion ofany organization in the section on nongovernmental organizations in Civil Society in Central Asia should not be interpreted as an endorsement by the publishers ofthat organization 's purposes, activities, or any other representations it may make about itself. Center for Civil Society International (CCSI) wishes to thank the Carnegie Corporation ofNew York and the Earhart Foundation ofAnn Arbor, Michigan, for generous grants which made possible both this book and the conference described above. Important support for that conference was also provided by The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the Nitze School ofAdvanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, whose chairman is S. Frederick Starr. Additional funding for this book was provided by the Central Asia Institute of Bozeman, Montana; John Hamer and Michael and Barbara Evans, of Seattle; and Robert Klein, ofTacoma. Bryan Bushley, currently a graduate student at the University ofWashington , spent several months on our behalf in Central Asia in 1997-98. His contacts and research in the region yielded us most ofthe data for the organizational profiles contained in the second part ofthe book. He also introduced us to a number ofthe Central Asians who were later invited to attend the March conference and became contributors to the project. Richard Upjohn, Alyssa Deutschler, Catriona Logan, Brent Roraback and Dana Tumenova contributed to various parts ofthe book, as did Maria Kozhevnikova , who also translated the article by Evgeny Zhovtis. Center for Civil Society International is alone responsible for any shortcomings to be found in Civil Society in Central Asia. -The Editors vii ...