Western-supported peacebuilding, mediation, and reconciliation projects initiated in response to the June 2010 ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan proved attractive to donors for a variety of reasons, yet their long-term ability to overcome “ethnic mistrust” and prevent the recurrence of future conflict is difficult to establish. In eastern Ukraine, if a lasting peace is ever to be achieved, great efforts will be needed to bridge the regional and ethnic divides and address the legacy of the armed conflict.
While there are, of course, significant differences between the two cases, the experience of donors in southern Kyrgyzstan may offer helpful lessons for future efforts in Ukraine. Where did these efforts in Kyrgyzstan succeed? Where did they fall short? What are the current and likely future needs of eastern Ukraine, and how can the lessons of Kyrgyzstan be applied?
Please join the Open Society Foundations Washington office for a discussion on these issues with Dr. Nicholas Megoran of Newcastle University and Inna Pidluska of the International Renaissance Foundation.
Speakers
- Dr. Nicholas Megoran is a political geographer at Newcastle University, United Kingdom.
- Inna Pidluska is deputy executive director of the International Renaissance Foundation.
- Jeff Goldstein (moderator) is the senior policy analyst for Eurasia at the Open Society Foundations.