University of Kent

Faculty Member, School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research

Director of Graduate Studies (Taught) / Senior Lecturer in Sociology

About

My main interests are political economy and ethics. I examine how moral sentiments, judgements and responsibilities shape and are shaped by economic and social structures and institutions. In particular my research explores how class, inequalities and poverty affect everyday morality and politics.

My research projects focus on the post-Soviet 'moral economy', and philanthropy and social justice:
    • First, I discuss how Kyrgyzstanis understand the ‘transition’ to a market economy, addressing issues of poverty and social inequality, ‘civilising effects’ of the market, professional ethics, family obligations, property rights and everyday politics
    • Second, I investigate how individuals from different class backgrounds and ‘social justice’ grant-makers morally frame donations, and how they can be both reflexive and self-deceptive about charitable giving

Before joining the School in 2004, I was a visiting lecturer at the Sociology Department, Novosibirsk State University, Russia (2000-02), and at the Sociology Department, American University - Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan (2002-04). I am still involved with the Open Society Institute, Budapest to develop higher education in post-Soviet countries.



Recent, Current and Future Research

There are two on-going projects on morality, justice and philanthropy, and two on-going and three previous projects on the post-Soviet moral economy:

i) Subsistence Claims, Property Rights and Poor Groups: Everyday Politics and Justice in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan (started in August 2011): it examines how poor groups in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan understand private property rights, focusing on what moral claims ‘land grabbers’, slum dwellers and illegal residents make, and how they are subsequently treated by the state. While the literature on land reforms in post-Soviet countries argues that privatisation can lead to land security and efficient land use, it tends to neglect the moral basis of land and property and the importance of moral obligations of society towards the poor and propertyless and their rights (such as rights to necessity and subsistence).

ii) Illegal Settlements and Residential Registration in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: An Investigation into Human Rights of Poor Groups and the Constitution (started in July 2011): it investigates the living conditions and strategies of illegal settlers and unregistered residents in major cities in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan in order to evaluate opportunities for supporting legal empowerment for the poor. The study describes how poor residents live, and what important obstacles they face. In particular, it focuses on the ways that tenure insecurity affects residents, and the kinds of obstacles that they face in gaining access to justice in protecting their property rights, business rights, and labour rights. It explores the coping strategies that novostroyki and propiska-less residents employ to deal with the marginalised social and economic position they occupy.

iii) Social Justice Philanthropy: Implications for Policy and Practice (with John Mohan and Kate Bradley, started in January 2011): it offers a critical appreciation of social justice philanthropy by investigating ‘social justice’ grant-makers, foundation trustees and leaders. By exploring how a number of foundations and individual philanthropists pursue social justice and change, we will learn how they make judgments about what and to whom to give, what moral resources, traditions, customs and rules they draw upon in reaching their evaluation about giving, and what they mean by social justice philanthropy.

iv) The Moral Economy of Charitable Giving: Working and Middle Class Philanthropy in the UK (started in April 2009): it aims to investigate how individuals of working and middle class backgrounds morally frame their donations to unknown others and worthy causes and make judgements about what and to whom to give, and what moral resources, traditions and rules they draw upon in reaching their evaluation about giving.

v) Families and Friendship: an investigation into ethics, emotions and poverty in Kyrgyzstan (with Mehrigiul Ablezova and Aisalkyn Botoeva, completed in December 2008): it investigates how poverty, human emotions and morality shape family responsibilities, inter-household practices and friendship. The project focuses on how social practices and relationships relate to human concerns, commitments and well-being.

vi) Kyrgyzstani Moral Economy: an investigation into professional ethics (with Aibek Ilyasov, completed in May 2006): it explores the nature of professionalism in Kyrgyzstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In particular, the study examines to what extent professional ethics, commitment and identity have developed, allowing professionals to resist corruption.

vii) Kyrgyzstani Political Economy: moral aspects of the social and economic transformation (with Elmira Satybaldieva, completed in December 2004): it examines how since the ‘transition’ to a market economy, Kyrgyzstanis have had to negotiate the shifting demands of the market, family, community and the state as they strive to attain a socially dignified existence. The study evaluates the boundaries of the market sphere, assesses its limits, and judges its liberating and destructive effects on other social spheres.


Articles in Refereed Journals

In progress: ‘Illegal Settlements and City Registration in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: Implications for Legal Empowerment, Politics and Ethnic Tensions’

In progress: ‘Charitable Giving, Moral Judgements and the Problem of Social Embeddedness: An Investigation into Everyday Morality, Akrasia and Self-Deception in the UK’

Submitted: ‘Charitable Giving, Everyday Morality and A Critique of Bourdieusian Theory: An Investigation into Disinterested Judgements, Moral Concerns and Reflexivity in the UK’

Submitted: ‘Attachment, Emotions and Kinship CareGiving: An Investigation into Family Relatedness and Support in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstani Households’ - with Mehrigiul Ablezova and Aisalkyn Botoeva

2012: ‘Ethics of Property, Illegal Settlements and the Right to Subsistence’, International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 32 - with Elmira Satybaldieva

2011, ‘Everyday morality in families and a critique of social capital: an investigation into moral judgements, responsibilities and sentiments in Kyrgyzstani households’ Theory and Society, 40.2: 167-190 - with Mehrigiul Ablezova and Aisalkyn Botoeva

2010, ‘Simpatizar Con Los Chabolistas Y Comprender La Economia Moral De La Tierra’ (‘Having Sympathy for Slum Dwellers and Understanding the Moral Economy of Land’), Revista Ecología Política. 40, December: 96-102 (in Spanish)

2009, ‘Moral Economy and Development Economics’, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33.5: 871-873 - with Wendy Olsen and Fergus Lyon

2009, ‘Moral sentiments and economic practices in Kyrgyzstan: the internal embeddedness of a moral economy’, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 33.5: 921-935 - with Elmira Satybaldieva

2008, ‘Moral sentiments and professionalism in post-soviet Kyrgyzstan: understanding professional practices and ethics’, International Sociology, 23.3: 447-467 - with Aibek Ilyasov

2008, ‘The social embeddedness of professions in Kyrgyzstan: an investigation into professionalism, institutions and emotions’, Europe-Asia Studies, 60.4: 643-661 - with Aibek Ilyasov

2006, ‘Understanding the moral economy of post-soviet societies: an investigation into moral sentiments and material interests in Kyrgyzstan’, International Social Science Journal, Volume 58, Issue 190: 715-727 - with Aibek Ilyasov and Elmira Satybaldieva


Short Articles

2010, 'Wanted: Economic Equality to Mend Kyrgyzstan', openDemocracy (oD Russia: Post-Soviet World), 27 August

2010, 'Why are Kyrgyzstan’s slum dwellers so angry?', openDemocracy (oD Russia: Post-Soviet World), 15 June


Professional Activities

I participate in the development of research skills and higher education in Central Asia through my collaboration with the Central Asian Research and Teaching Initiative (CARTI) programme, sponsored by the Open Society Institute (OSI), Budapest. I have also been involved with the Sociology Department at Novosibirsk State University, Russia, to further teaching and research in social identities in transforming societies.

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