IWPR Central Asia and CABAR.asia present a policy brief themed “From Resource Extraction to Local Dissent: Understanding Environmental Protests in the Gold Mining Sector of Kyrgyzstan”. The brief was developed by Abdyrakhman Sulaimanov for the IWPR Representative Office in Central Asia and the regional analytical platform CABAR.asia.
For citation and references to the material, please indicate: Abdyrakhman Sulaimanov, 2023, From Resource Extraction to Local Dissent: Understanding Environmental Protests in the Gold Mining Sector of Kyrgyzstan), CABAR.asia
This policy brief scrutinizes the underlying determinants of local discontent within Kyrgyzstan’s gold mining sector, categorizing them across environmental, social, cultural, and governance dimensions. Understanding these driving forces is paired with an exploration of how dissent takes shape – from peaceful gatherings to roadblocks and confrontations, extending to instances of riotous expressions, all working as outlets for protestors to voice their urgent demands. The articulated demands of protestors are directly interlinked with the root causes that propel these demonstrations. The report takes a comprehensive approach, avoiding a narrow focus on specific case studies. Additionally, an exploration of strategies adopted by mining companies to achieve local acceptance in the Kyrgyz context is explained. Moreover, the brief extends valuable insights into policy recommendations designed to improve the gold mining sector in Kyrgyzstan.
The publication is intended for experts and consultants of foreign policy departments of the Kyrgyz Republic, researchers and academia, decision-makers, and a wide range of readers interested in politics and sustainable development in the Central Asian region.
Read the full version of the policy brief here
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