Understanding Regime Legitimacy in Central Asia

Sally Cummings (St Andrews)	Edward Schatz (University of Toronto)	Luca Anceschi (Glasgow University)

Patrimonial, patronal, clientelistic: Central Asia’s authoritarian power is often classified in these terms. The proliferation of analytical rubrics and conceptual lenses to delve into regional developments confirms that, if anything, Central Asian politics are profoundly complex. The regional conformation of power does however remain relatively stable. Regime durability, in most cases, is supported by the intricate connection of domestic patronal networks with international alliances. Sophisticated communication machines and successful nation-building tools have also sustained local élites and hamper political protests. For all intents and purposes, a calculated combination of softer authoritarian strategies and more repressive governance methods has allowed the Central Asian leaders to reduce internal political processes and guarantee, so far, regimes’ monopolies.

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