ABSTRACT
This chapter critically examines some of the aforementioned trajectories to outline how far perception of political leadership is rooted in political culture and geographical setting. It looks at whether there is any divergence or convergence among the Central Asian states in the pattern of leadership. In the post-Soviet Central Asian states, the customary rules evolved over a period of time and are playing an important role in regulating "social behaviours" and generating "institutional norms". The annexation and accession of Central Asia by colonial rulers, more particularly the Tsarist rulers, brought out fundamental changes in the administrative structure, both in the nomadic and sedentary regions. The Central Asian political culture was not only reflected through the sedentary and nomadic political processes but also in the oral narratives, literary writings and community cultural practices. Finally, the chapter sheds light on how the present-day political leadership is lending legitimacy to their leadership, which is often premised upon "patrimony".
