Civil Society and Education in Central Asia: A Cambridge Central Asia Forum Seminar

Civil Society and Education in Central Asia

A Cambridge Central Asia Forum Seminar

1st December 2009

Introduction The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 opened up the world
order to five newly independent countries of Central Asia. These states
found themselves in an increasingly globalised environment without any
preparation or pre-warning. While the Western nations and international
organisations have good-will and want to connect with Central Asia, it is
often expected that it will be done singularly on external terms and often
without understanding of rich experience that Central Asian societies bring
to the table and a balanced and mutual exchange of knowledge. This calls
for a critical look at what each side has to offer.

Aspiration to achieve this integration presents significant challenges as
well as opportunities. If international actors and these states are to
avoid producing new forms of oppression and undermining their own
legitimacy, how they understand civil society and accommodate it
appropriately, both within knowledge and the education system must become a
central policy concern in any attempt to create a truly ‘civil society’.

The speakers This seminar explores four aspects of civil society in the
region with the aim of developing a picture of some of the key issues
concerning knowledge, education and civil society.

Shailaja Fennell will address how the conceptualisations of civil society
are shaped by institutions and the discourses they project. Richard
Holloway will consider the nature and role of civil society in the region,
and how it impacts the character of social development, based on the
activity of the Aga Khan Development Network. Barbara Potrata will focus
specifically on the boundaries of what constitutes officially recognised
knowledge and some of the implications for codification, based on her
research on indigenous medicinal practices. Finally, Anise Waljee will look
at the opportunities, experience, methods and limitations of what is
possible to teach about civil society.

The seminar and discussions will form the basis of a forthcoming Cambridge
Central Asia Forum occasional papers series.

Convenor: Nick Duncan
Rapporteurs: Olga Ulybina and Prajakti Kalra

Programme:
Morning (9-1 Land Economy, Mill Lane Cambridge) Chair: S.S. Saxena
Registration 9.30-10.00
Welcome and Introduction 10.00-10.15
Civil Society and Institutions 10.15-11.30
Coffee 11.30-11.45
Civil Society in Central Asia 11.45-1.00

Lunch (not provided) 1.00-2.00

Afternoon (2-5. Development Studies, Mill Lane) Chair: Nick Duncan
Civil Society and Knowledge 2.00-3.15
Coffee 3.15-3.30
Civil Society and Education 3.30-4.45