Category Archives: politics

Backwater Cosmopolitan

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jeremy

Before this trip, the only time I had spent in Osh were the five days around the elections in October of last year. Although I have been reading about this city for over a decade, only now am I getting … Continue reading →

Posted in anthropology, globalization, Kyrgyzstan, politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Southern Discomfort

Posted on February 28, 2011 by jeremy

Tomorrow I head south to the city of Osh for a few weeks to do work in the Kara Suu bazaar, which supplies Uzbekistan with most of its Chinese-produced goods. I will also be spending my time revisiting the ethnically … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, trade, Uzbekistan | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Turkmenistan’s (Futile) Push for Trade Supremacy

Posted on February 26, 2011 by jeremy

Being on the other side of the Karakum desert, when it comes to trade Turkmenistan tends to be grouped more with Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan while the other Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) form another group. While … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, trade, Turkmenistan | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

China’s Western Horizon

Posted on February 24, 2011 by jeremy

Working with my Chinese tutor here in Bishkek has given me some new perspectives on the way that trade functions on the other side of the border. Although my tutor is working primarily as a language instructor, he is also … Continue reading →

Posted in China, development, politics, trade | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Slouching Towards China

Posted on January 16, 2011 by jeremy

Well, after too much time between posts, I am finally back to the blog. Since the last update I spent several weeks on vacation in India, where I saw the same Chinese goods in open air markets that are sold … Continue reading →

Posted in development, politics, Xinjiang | 1 Comment

Trade Along the Heroin Road

Posted on October 28, 2010 by jeremy

For the purposes of my research, I have chosen to concentrate on the exchange of household goods and clothing on the transnational routes of Central Asia instead of the (at first blush) more sexy markets of arms and narcotics. Although … Continue reading →

Posted in Kyrgyzstan, politics, trade | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

NYTimes Caught Silk Road Fever

Posted on October 17, 2010 by jeremy

An article was published in the times today extolling the wonders of Xinjiang, the most northwestern province of China and where I will be in mid-to-late 2011 for my fieldwork. I am sure that the article will achieve its goal … Continue reading →

Posted in media, politics, Xinjiang | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Not so Osh-ome

Posted on October 16, 2010 by jeremy

During the days when I was in the southern city of Osh last week with J.A., my photographer friend, we attempted to find media outlets that would be interested in seeing and reading about the ways that Osh is coping … Continue reading →

Posted in Kyrgyzstan, media, politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Did somebody say party?

Posted on October 7, 2010 by jeremy

Despite the dreary rain signaling the end of the summer in the Chui Valley, the people of Kyrgyzstan are anxious and hopeful this week. The reason for so much worry and excitement is that on Sunday October 10, a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Kyrgyzstan, politics | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Bishkek Street Art: Graffiti and Freedom of Speech

Posted on September 15, 2010 by jeremy

One feature that has always stood out to me, as an American, about post-Soviet Central Asian cities is the lack of a culture of street art. The presence of quasi-anonymous public art gives voice to the thoughts and feelings of … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Kyrgyzstan, politics | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments