About the activities and contributions of K. Isaev

Kusein Isaev — Doctor of Philosophy, professor of sociology, outstanding scholar, educator, and public figure. He dedicated more than half a century of his life to teaching and research at universities in the Kyrgyz Republic.

From 1993 to 1999, he worked productively at BSU named after K. Karasaev, where he made a significant contribution to the institutionalization of sociology as a science and profession, as well as a number of other specialties new to the young sovereign republic. Building on the best educational programs of Moscow State University, St. Petersburg State University, and leading Western European universities, K. Isaev opened the first Department of Sociology and Political Science in 1993. That same year, a sociology research laboratory was established as a base for practical training for students and a center for applied social research. In 1994, the Faculty of Management and Sociology was founded. At the same time, departments training specialists in social work, psychology, and public and municipal administration were established, as well as a department for graduate and doctoral studies, all in line with contemporary demands. K. Isaev successfully headed this faculty until 1999.

For more than three decades, the sociological research and education laboratory has consistently developed and operated in various organizational formats (the Center for Sociological Research, the Department of Sociological and Marketing Research, and the Center for Career, Practice, and Marketing), maintaining scientific continuity and its research mission. In 2025, by decision of the Academic Council of BSU named after K. Karasayev, the Center for Social Research was re-established and named after its founder, Kusein Isaev.

In 1989, K. Isaev founded the Society of Sociologists of Kyrgyzstan, which, after independence, transformed into the Sociological Association of Kyrgyzstan. He headed this organization until 2023. During the Soviet period and after independence, he held leadership positions in a number of prestigious international organizations. In particular, he was vice president of the Soviet Sociological Association (1988), held leadership positions in the Association of Sociologists of the CIS (1996), and co-chaired the Eurasian Sociological Association (2001). In 2005, the Sociological Association of the Turkic World was established in Kocaeli, Turkey, and he was one of the active initiators.

He was also an academician of the Social Academy of the Russian Federation (1995, Moscow) and the Humanitarian Academy (1996, St. Petersburg), a member of the International Research Committee "Jacobo" (since 1997, Warsaw, Seoul), a member of the International Sociological Association (since 1998), a member of the editorial board of the authoritative journal "Sociological Research" (since 1994), and a member of the organizing committee of the International Public Forum "Dialogue of Civilizations" (since 2002).

Particularly noteworthy is K. Isaev's work as President of the Sociological Association of Kyrgyzstan in promoting Kyrgyz sociology internationally. Since 1998, he has been a member of the International Sociological Association and served on working groups on global and local issues. For many years, he distinguished himself as a representative of Kyrgyz sociological thought in the global academic community. In particular, he presented scientific papers at the World Congresses of the International Sociological Association (Montreal, 1998; Brisbane, 2002; Durban, 2006; Barcelona, 2008; Gothenburg, 2010; Buenos Aires, 2012; Yokohama, 2014), at the Dialogue of Civilizations forum (Rhodes, 2002-2015), and also actively participated in the congresses of the Russian Society of Sociologists (Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg, Ufa, Kazan, etc.) and congresses of sociologists of Turkic-speaking countries (Alma-Ata, Istanbul, Kocaeli, etc.).

Kusein Isaev is the author of over 20 books, including 10 monographs, 140 scholarly papers, and over 250 scholarly and journalistic articles, covering topics such as the sociology of politics, the political elite and its formation, the sociology of identity, Kyrgyz studies, the national specifics of the transition to democracy, spiritual values, worldview, the Kyrgyz language, Kyrgyz statehood, and the theory and practice of popular revolutionary movements. His works have been published in both domestic and prestigious international journals, including those indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. In recent years, he has focused on issues of Kyrgyz studies and national identity. His significant works include "Who Were the Kyrgyz? What Have They Become? What Should They Be?" (Bishkek, 2017), «A Clean Society is a Promising Path for the Development of Kyrgyzstan» (Bishkek, 2017), «Problems of Kyrgyz Studies» (Bishkek, 2016), which received high praise both in the academic community and among a wide readership.

From 1987 to 1992 in Alma-Ata and from 1995 to 1998 in Turkestan, Kazakhstan, he served as a member of dissertation councils for doctoral and candidate dissertations in sociology in Central Asian countries, making a significant contribution to the training of scientific personnel in the region. Later, in 2005, on his initiative, the K. Karasayev BSU opened the possibility of defending candidate and doctoral dissertations in sociology and political science. Until his death, he served as deputy chairman and a permanent member of the dissertation councils. During this period, K. Isayev trained and mentored a large number of young scientists—more than 50 candidates and doctors of science.

For his many years of fruitful scientific and pedagogical work, Kusein Isaev was awarded the Medal "For Valiant Labor" and the Certificate of Honor of the Supreme Council of the Kyrgyz SSR. He was awarded the honorary title of "Honored Educational Figure of the Kyrgyz Republic" (2006) and the state award "People's Teacher of the Kyrgyz Republic" (2010). He was known and highly respected within the country's academic community, among broader expert circles, and among colleagues and students by the honorary name "Mudaris," which he bore with dignity throughout his life.

Kusein Isaev died from a long illness on March 31, 2023, at the age of 86.