Kyrgyzstan: A Central-Asian Beacon of Democracy?

Global Inquirer

Although Kyrgyzstan rarely makes the front page of the news, this Central-Asian nation has a fascinating history. From 1991, when Kyrgyzstan became independent from the Soviet Union to the present day in 2021, three of their democratically-elected presidents have been unseated by protesters and civil unrest. In this episode, we dive into Kyrgyzstan’s complex history of electoral politics, and whether the country lives up to its designation as a beacon of democracy. Special thanks to Dr. Margaret Hanson of Arizona State University for allowing us to interview her! Host: Emma Ross Researchers: Maggie Sparling and Alma Wolf Producer: Jessica Ji and Ella Anderson The Global Inquirer is a production of the International Relations Organization at UVA, and affiliated with TEEJ, UVA’s podcasting network.