Depoliticizing Manas: The Domestic Consequences of the U.S. Military Presence in Kyrgyzstan

Over three years since the United States established military bases in Central Asia to support Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), the military installation at Manas airport continues to define many aspects of the U.S.-Kyrgyz relationship. Much has passed in Kyrgyzstan since fall 2001, and several informative accounts have analyzed the dynamics of the evolving U.S.-led coalition presence. This analysis, based on a recent research trip to Kyrgyzstan, seeks to complement existing accounts by offering additional comparative insights regarding the impact of the U.S. base on domestic Kyrgyz politics. The political dynamics generated by the Manas base are analogous to Kyrgyzstan’s previous post-Soviet experience with Western actors. In particular, many of the political and economic consequences of the U.S. base presence also occurred in Kyrgyzstan in the mid- to late-1990s when it was awash with Western foreign aid, technical assistance programs, and NGO projects. This article draws analytical parallels and lessons from these experiences to assess Manas-related politics. […]

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