In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

ix Many interlocutors made possible my work and life in Kyrgyzstan, and they were generous in sharing their thoughts, homes, and tea. Particularly key to enabling and enriching my fieldwork were my colleagues Ertabyldy Sulaimanov , Tamara Nuridinova, Shavkat Atakhanov, Alisher Ilkhamov, Thomas Hale III, Kent Mathieson, Alisher Khamidov, Duishon Shamatov, Bakyt Beshimov, Tashbolot Joraev, Anara Jamasheva, Turgunbek Niyazov, and Svetlana Gugulovna Pashenko. Contributing most crucially to the intellectual development and exposition of this book were Nick Megoran, Ed Schatz, Laura Adams, Adrienne Edgar , Joel Wainwright, John Schoeberlein, Madeleine Reeves, Jeff Maskovsky, Scott Levi, Dorry Noyes, Barry Shank, Marianne Kamp, Nazif Shahrani, Bruce Grant, Brian Silverstein, Engseng Ho, Eric McGlinchey, David Abramson, Uli Schamiloglu, David Gullette, Russell Zanca, Jeff Sahadeo, Dru Gladney, Cynthia Werner, and Jennifer Patico. Brinkley Messick opened the possibility of original intellectual spaces and exemplifies the kind of scholar I most admire. Jane Burbank showed me how to tease meaning out of sources and to imagine differently. Katherine Verdery inspired the reach for the highest standards of rigor and integrity. Erik Mueggler revealed a vision of the bold and brilliant. acknowledgments Stefan Senders creatively expanded my boundaries of ethnographic writing. Norma Diamond inculcated the love for Asia and anthropology. Val Daniel indexed what anthropology could become. Several institutions have supported my fieldwork and writing. My sincerest thanks go to the Social Science Research Council (especially Seteney Shami, Anthony Koliha, and Holly Danzeisen) and the International Research Exchange Board, as well as to the Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad program (especially to Joanna Kukielka-Blaser) and the American Collegiate Consortium. I am also grateful to the Ministry of Education of the Kyrgyz Republic; Kyrgyz State National University, Bishkek; Osh State University; Kyrgyz-Uzbek University, Osh; at the University of Michigan, the Center for Russian and East European Studies, the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, the Department of Anthropology, and the Institute for Humanities ; as well as the Harvard University Society of Fellows (especially Nur Yalman, Diana Morse, and Amy Parker) and the Ohio State University College of Arts and Sciences (especially Dick Davis, Sabra Webber, and Seb Knowles). To the University of Pittsburgh Press I express deep appreciation for the comments of peer reviewers and for the generous spirit of Peter Kracht and Doug Northrop during the editing process. I would also like to thank special friends, including Don and Elizabeth Stahl, Norm and Jacque Friberg, Linda Mathieson, Becky Hale, Willem and Karolien den Blanken, Tracy Moffet, Richbek and Lyn Pierce, and Ron and Londa Taylor. We will not forget how Londa gave her life, and then gave it up, in service to the people of Osh. My greatest human gratitude goes to my family, for many years of unceasing support, both in Kyrgyzstan and at home: my wife Swan Bee, son Declan, daughter Deirdre, and my parents, Molly and Rory Liu. x acknowledgements ...

Share