ABSTRACT
Following a series of attacks against the Uzbek minority in Osh in 2010, the questions of spatial and social segregation as well as that of ethnic coexistence have been under scrutiny in Kyrgyzstan. This chapter, based on two long-term studies in different areas of the country, examines how factors like language, politics, kinship, marriage, migration, business, and friendship contribute to the definition of the social boundaries of ethnic groups and reveal different adapting strategies. Ismailbekova conducted her ethnographic research from 2011 to 2014 in three areas of Osh city (i.e. Cheremushka, ShayitTepe, and Kyzyl Kyshtak) that were heavily affected by the violent conflict. There, she also lived with those who experienced the conflict first hand. In contrast, Karimova conducted her research from 2013 to 2014 in peaceful areas of southern Kyrgyzstan such as Kahraman, Madaniyat, and Nookat, where she lived with people who were not immediately affected by the conflict. Both authors used the same ethnographic method for collecting data: participant observation, in-depth interviews, and analysis of secondary literature.
