The Mafia is also divided by ethnic differences. There is increasing intergenerational conflict, expressed in clashes over traditional versus modern values, customs and beliefs. Many of the well-educated have left the region for better opportunities elsewhere. High birth rates and low mobility of locals increases conflict due to limited water and land resources. For example, in Kyrgyzstan less than 10 percent of the territory is suitable for settlement.
Water is scarce and has become a highly prized resource.
The destruction of the Aral Sea and poor water management is related to ethnic tensions and competition between countries. The traditional idea of state primacy over the individual means people frequently look for a strong state to solve problems rather than finding their own solutions. Citizen organizations operate with a limited social base. Although there are several hundred NGOs in Kyrgyzstan, for example, this does not mean that there is an active civil society, since some of the organizations are for show, set up simply to receive funding. Russia, Turkey, Iran, the US, China and other countries have struggled for influence in the region, greatly affecting domestic and regional politics.