Clans Bishkek

Bishkek -  How could such peaceful, contemplative people get involved in two recent revolutions (2005 and 2010) and ethnic riots (2010)? I began to understand the mechanism a little after I found out about the importance of clans. There is still a rich family structure with all its positive aspects of people taking care of each other. There are ‘public sitting rooms’ everywhere: men in particular love to sit or squat together in public spaces to play games or just chat. But these positive aspects have a negative side as well. Family life has its costly obligations such as the expensive parties people are forced to throw when their children get married. The government is talking about making a law that forbids these so-called ‘expensive traditions’ by limiting the number of people at a wedding.  I guess this will not work. When a clan has helped one of its family members to attain a high position, it will want to be paid back at a certain point, spawning corruption. This does not explain everything, but it helps us to understand.
Lino Hellings – Bishkek Lab