This article examines the concept of sovereignty in elite and popular affection during the violent and turbulent events from April to October 2010 in the Kyrgyz Republic. Nationalist leaders promoted Kyrgyz ethnic values and ideals as the center of sovereignty held by some to be under threat. These events exemplify what we describe as the affective politics of sovereignty. We explore how emotion, in particular, serves as an important component of the constitution of sovereignty as both an international and popular institution. We explore how Kyrgyz identity has become intertwined with the sovereignty of Kyrgyzstan and clashes with Western multi-ethnic conceptions and practices.

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This article analyses former President Askar Akaev's use of ethnogenesis, a theoretical approach concerned with demonstrating continuous social groups and group identity, in his nation-building campaign. In particular, it examines the president's sympathy for the work of Lev Gumilev, a prominent ethnogenetic theorist, and the ways he combined this with people's understandings of their ancestors. Akaev promoted the image of ancestors through Gumilev's concept of passionate energy. This is demonstrated through two commemorative ceremonies to ancestors. A further comparison between Gumilev's concept of 'passion' and charisma reveals other characteristics in the Kyrgyz nation-building campaign and how it attempts to influence people's everyday lives.

Reflecting on the experience of conducting a conflict‐sensitivity review during the 2010 political and social disturbances in Kyrgyzstan, the authors argue for the integration of conflict‐sensitive methods across programme areas, close monitoring of conflict potential and an institutional commitment to detailed conflict research drawing on broader socio‐economic research. Comparing their observations with the review findings of conflict sensitivity methods in Nepal, the authors offer recommendations for the application of ‘do no harm’ principles to development work in fragile environments. Ensuring the creation and systematic use of an adequate knowledge base is the critical first step to preventing the lessons that should be learnt from the Kyrgyz experience from being lost.