Specifically, I have three interviews coming up that deal with some of the more contentious international issues in Central Asia: Manas Air Base, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), "democracy promotion" in Post-Soviet states, and child labor in the cotton industry.
While these are all exciting issues for me to research further (having already some basic reference from my studies at Columbia), I want to emphasize for all my family and friends "back home" who have expressed concern, that I am neither dealing with people important enough, or revealing information sensative enough, to generate any difficulties or danger for myself while in Kyrgyzstan. Media freedom here is not, perhaps, what it is in America, but even the worst-case examples of repression involve local journalists doing intense expose's, usually on local politicians.
So in addition to my US citizenship and my Radio Azattyk ID badge, I have the added protection of speaking mostly with people of limited, if any, local importance or influence. As an English-language correspondent in Bishkek, these are probably going to be my standard fare for the summer. An odd trait that may not continue - 2 of my 3 current interviews are with Columbia-affiliated personnel. That's just weird.
Upcoming interviews include:
Dr. Alex Cooley
Prof. of Political Science
Barnard College (Columbia), New York
A specialist in such theoretical concepts as the structural forms of power in post-colonial and post-soviet governments, he has more recently focused on the specific policy of small US "Lily Pad" military bases rather than the conventional Cold War mega-bases, including the contentious Manas Air Base - the primary resupply depot for the US war in Afghanistan, and currently the only US military presence in Central Asia. He is currently working in Kyrgyzstan on a fellowship regarding the SCO and its growth as an alternative international affiliation to organizations like NATO, the EU, IMF, etc.
I will be asking him about Manas, the SCO, and US Relations in the region.
Dr. Lincoln Mitchell
Prof. of International Politics
School of International & Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia, New York
In addition to being a professor, Dr. Mithcell is a regular contributor to the opinion section of the Huffington Post, where he comments on domestic US affairs. His professional leanings deal with "democracy promotion" in the Caucasus, former-Soviet states, and to some degree the Middle East. He was most engaged last summer, when his area of closest specialization, Georgia, became a flashpoint of international affairs. He wrote articles or made appearances on NPR, BBC, the New York Times, and many other formal and informal (blog) news organizations. He is currently working on a book about the many so-called "colored revolutions" in which non-violent popular protests lead to the initiation of democratic reform in many post-Soviet countries.
I will be speaking to him about the parallels of the Georgia-Kyrgyz situations, and more generally trying to clear up the divide between rhetoric and action on the issue of US foreign relations vis-a-vis "democracy promotion."
Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
Chair, Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry
Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
In addition to having the kind of ridiculous super-American personal backstory that you mostly find in Tom Clancy novels (see wiki), Sen. Harkin is currently proposing a Senate Resolution to formally call out Uzbekistan for its well-documented, but formally denied, wide-scale practice of using seasonal child labor to harvest its cotton crop. As the 3rd largest cotton producer in the world, Uzbek has a lot to lose by foregoing this cheap labor source, though pressure from some US retailers (most famously Wal-Mart, who boycotted Uzbek cotton for ethical reasons!) may be shifting this a little. It should also be noted, Harkin's voting record / political stance is rather impressively liberal (with a few exceptions). Check out this tool:Govtrack.us
I'll ask him about the practicality of asking an economically unstable country with a repressive authoritarian regime to reduce the profits of its only viable export industry, and the confusion of implementing "Rights of the Child" in a country that generally neglects all standard "Human Rights" conventions.
As you can see from the above, I'm fortunate to have interesting topics to research, and informed, intelligent people with which to discuss them. They should allow me to learn more about the particular topics, and to use that information to better inform international listeners about items of interest in Central Asia.
But I'm certainly not turning over any applecarts, or digging up any hidden audio tape. I'm discussing issues which are either academic, or US-internal, and thus not likely to stir up any consternation in Bishkek. I mean, if in response to a question on theories of democracy structure, someone accidentally confesses to a huge conspiracy of graft involving the upper echelons of the Kyrgyz government, I might have to run with that, but... I think that's about as likely as finding Elvis battling mummies in a small Texas nursing home.
Perhaps even less dangerous.
But just in case, I'll watch my back side.
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