The Genealogical Construction of the Kyrgyz Republic

Book excerpt: This book explores the conceptions of genealogy, kinship and ‘tribalism’ in the intertwined construction of personhood and national identity in the Kyrgyz Republic. It makes an important contribution to several theoretical and regional debates. First, it engages with broader anthropological literature. Genealogy, a central theme of the work, is explored not only as an analysis of relationships, but also as a methodological tool through which to examine society. Second, the book contributes to theories of kinship and the state. Research provides detailed accounts of Soviet and post-Soviet transformations, and their influence on people’s everyday lives. Third, the book fills a gap in Central/Inner Asian literature by focusing on social relations during a period of political upheaval.