Short-Circuiting Reform
Abstract
Both Georgia and Kyrgyzstan have recently experienced a change in regime (2003 and 2005 respectively), due in part to the public's dissatisfaction with mismanagement of the energy sector. Electricity outages, particularly in Georgia, became visible proof that the government’s ability to provide goods and services was literally ‘short circuited’. This paper argues that the mismanagement of the electricity sector in both states was a deliberate tactic by state and non-state actors operating in politico-economic networks for private gain. Their operations deterred the development of a sustainable intra- and inter-state energy system. However, whereas Kyrgyzstan’s electricity sector remained stagnant after 2005, the new Georgian government's efforts to enhance management and performance have generated positive dividends. One explanation may be that informal networks continue to monopolize transactions in the Kyrgyz energy sector. Show more
Publication status
publishedJournal / series
Visiting Research Fellow PapersPages / Article No.
Publisher
American University of Central Asia Social Research CenterOrganisational unit
03515 - Wenger, Andreas / Wenger, Andreas
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ETH Bibliography
yes
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