ABSTRACT
This chapter contends that understanding policy styles in post-Soviet Central Asia is a more complex discussion than one would expect at first glance. The early discussions highlighted the broad expectation that the Central Asian states would be quick to assume Western-style practices to make a decisive break with the Soviet past in terms of culture of governance and policy style. Later, many predicted a rupture with the Soviet political and societal institutions throughout Central Asia, either through the re-emergence of pre-Soviet identities, networks and practices, the violent outbreak of nationalism or the adoption of market economic reforms. The Soviet political legacy was a lot more difficult to erase, however, as many of the elements of the old system still exist.
