Authentic Kyrgyzstan: top down politics meet bottom up heritage

Over the past twelve years I have collaborated with Kyrgyz citizens to promote a national conversation about heritage, based on grass roots interest and sentiment. Countering polarising political rhetoric about Kyrgyz nomadism as the only authentic national heritage identity, many citizens enthusias...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInternational journal of heritage studies : IJHS Vol. 24; no. 7; pp. 709 - 722
Main Author Pyburn, K. Anne
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Abingdon Taylor & Francis Ltd 09.08.2018
Subjects
Authenticity
Cultural heritage
Grass roots movement
Minority & ethnic violence
Museums
Nomads
Kyrgyzstan
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Summary:Over the past twelve years I have collaborated with Kyrgyz citizens to promote a national conversation about heritage, based on grass roots interest and sentiment. Countering polarising political rhetoric about Kyrgyz nomadism as the only authentic national heritage identity, many citizens enthusiastically present the artefacts of ancient cities alongside the balbals (stele) of ancient nomads in their community museums, eagerly participate in discussions about a complex Kyrgyz past, and have collaborated with Uzbek speakers to create a national heritage society. In this paper I will describe several community museums and other grass roots education programmes that I have been involved with in Kyrgyzstan and consider their potential for countering ethnic conflict.
ISSN:1352-7258
1470-3610
DOI:10.1080/13527258.2017.1390489