Abstract:

State and Religion: Protecting Kyrgyz national drinks

In our paper we will focus on Kyrgyz state response to the transformation of religion. The state's policy we describe as nation building and the transformation of religion we describe as "from belonging to believing" process.

The latter process leads to debates: that a true Muslim cannot drink alcohol and includes into this category traditional Kyrgyz national drinks Kymyz and Bozo.

In our paper we research the state's response to transformation of religion, mainly Islam and to the less degree Christianity (Kyrgyz converts).

We argue that the state policy in form of promoting national identity, culture and secularism put religion and believe to greater autonomy thus accelerating the transformation. However this transformation will not influence politics enough to threaten the Kyrgyz secular state.

We will interview ex and current policy makers and analyze the results of Yiman Nuru political party on 2020 parliamentary elections in Bishkek suburbs where first generation migrants experience identity fluctuations (the party unofficially positions itself as pro Islamic).