Surviving Everyday Life

Abstract

The volume explores the everyday security practices of various people in Kyrgyzstan that feel threatened on the grounds of their ethnic belonging, gender or sexual orientation. In doing so, it provides a bottom-up perspective of security and insecurity in Kyrgyzstan, which differs from more state-centric and elitist accounts on this subject. Case studies include the Uzbek and the Lyuli minorities in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan, young women in the capital city of Bishkek, ethnically mixed couples and the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Each case applies ethnographic methods to follow individuals in their everyday lives and asks how they deal with the various insecurities they face. The volume studies security in cafes and restaurants, in kindergartens and schools, public transport, bazaars, taxis, virtual chat rooms and nightclubs. It argues that seemingly trivial aspects of everyday life, such as food and music, children's education or romantic first love, are important to gaining a more comprehensive picture of what security in Kyrgyzstan is all about. All contributions apply the analytical concept of securityscapes. The volume should be of relevance to scholars and students from social anthropology, security studies, gender studies and queer studies with an interest in Central Asia.