Overview

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, NGOs and civil society (CS) actors in Central Asia found themselves struggling to set up new organizations that would fight for democracy, sustainable development and social justice. It was a time of great hopes, disappointments and interrupted progress for a region largely neglected by the powerful global actors. The Struggle for Civil Society in Central Asia describes the gradual establishment of the CS sector in Central Asia despite the economic and social crises that marked the first decade of independence in the region. It shows how the neo-liberal policies of international agencies failed to spur progress in the 1990s and how national government control gradually re-asserted itself after 2000. The book also covers the effects of 9/11 on CS, the impact of “colored revolutions” and the challenges that civil society organizations face today.

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9781565492998

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A refreshingly accessible perspective on civil society from an intellectual/practitioner. It illuminates the idea of civil society but is also deeply informative on its context and potential in the Central Asian region.

The Struggle for Civil Society in Central Asia provides a history of the different crises that have marked the region, surveys how civil society was established, and considers social and economic impacts of world politics in the evolution of Central Asia. College-lovel collections strong in Asian history, politics and social order will welcome this discussion. A refreshingly accessible perspective on civil society from an intellectual/practitioner. It illuminates the idea of civil society but is also deeply informative on its context and potential in the Central Asian region. Charles Buxton s book The Struggle for Civil Society in Central Asia tells the fascinating and at times heart-breaking story of the local groups and activists who emerged during the chaos of the early 1990s and of their continuing battle to support their local communities and to reshape their countries after independence. For those familiar with Central Asia and interested in civil society development, this book is a must have. Based on 15 years of experience, it offers both historical context and informative case studies. Buxton's tone is a plus; he does not take an imperialistic outlook by advocating for Western/non-Central Asian intiatives. Instead, he offers a broad-based, optimistic focus on the initiatives that can be taken at both the donor and organizational levels. Buxton's work is well-researched, and he succeeds in straddling the academic and practitioner worlds. Overall, the book is a success. It would be especially helpful for practitioners breaking into the NGO field in Central Asia or for generalists interested in civil society development around the world. Summing Up: Recommended. The strength of this book is the record that it presents of emerging NGOs in the region, particularly when this is based on first-hand experience....[It] provides a sincere and sympathetic account of a particular aspect of the development of the Central Asian states at an exceptionally difficult period in their history. If it raises more questions than it answers, that is, in a sense, a compliment to the author, for he highlights important issues and stimulates further thought, discussion and research. Charles Buxton has written the first comprehensive primer on the emergence and role of civil society organizations in Central Asia to date. It is essential reading for anyone interested not only in the future of this region but also in the development of civil society and its potential to affect change in undemocratic settings.

Author Information

Charles Buxton is an INTRAC Capacity Building Specialist based in Central Asia

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