Incentives to reform in the Caucasus and Central Asian political states

The previous chapter identified the dependent form of social capital that was inherited from the Soviet Union as a primary obstacle to both economic restructuring and the emergence of pluralistic political systems in the CCA countries. This chapter examines why and how the political states in the region have perpetuated this state of affairs. It also evaluates the prospects of the ruling elites re-aligning their interests with those of society at large.