Word: whiles
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Initially, Kyrgyzstan stood out among the newly independent Central Asian republics for its sound, multi-party democratic system. While its neighbors returned to authoritarian rule, built on networks of patronage run by Soviet apparatchiks of old, Kyrgyzstan became relatively open, buoyed in particular by an outspoken civil society. However, by...
Bakiyev replaced Akayev with a stated agenda of reforming the country and ending corruption, but did little to act on those promises. His regime continued an earlier practice of playing foreign powers against each other - accepting lavish handouts from both Washington and Moscow to accommodate their military installations on its...
While the coup against Thaksin came as a surprise because there hadn't been one in 14 years, military ousters have been commonplace throughout modern Thai history. The military has staged 18 successful coups since 1932, when a group of army officers and intellectuals overthrew the last absolute monarch. Since...
Soldiers, however, were still meddling in politics. According to poll monitors, military officers have interfered in just about every election since 1992. Military personnel are part of the patronage networks of leading politicians, whose influence they rely upon to advance their careers in the armed forces. This provides incentive for...
The Thai army sees itself as an honest and selfless force for developing the nation and a moral counterpoint to corrupt politicians, according to Chris Baker, co-author of A History of Thailand. This conveniently ignores a long history of corruption within the military and abuses of citizens' rights. But...