Paper long abstract:

Radicalization in Central Asia is cross-generational: it includes people of a variety of age groups. However, it is believed that youth occupies a special place - they make the most dominant group. This study intended to analyze factors of vulnerability and resilience of young people in Kyrgyzstan to engagement with violent extremist groups. The study was based on a combination of quantitative (questionnaire survey of 1054 young people: high-school, madrasa and college students and working/unemployed) and qualitative (interviews and FGDs with young people, stakeholders and experts) in all seven regions of Kyrgyzstan and two large cities: Bishkek and Osh. The empirical discussion is structured around six main domains of young people's lives: socialization, religion, identity, justice, politics and psychology. For each domain, it discusses the overall characteristics/trends and factors of vulnerability/resilience to radicalization. The results across six domains are then lumped together to reveal the most significant factors of vulnerability and resilience.