An introduction to political transition in post-Soviet Central Asia

In 1991 when the Soviet Union disintegrated it was widely assumed that the newly formed Central Asian states would be transformed into democratic states. In fact, none of the post-Communist Central Asian states has produced democracy; instead, they have turned to authoritarian forms of rule. ¹ Commentators and political analysts have highlighted a number of areas that have created obstacles to transition to democracy in Central Asia, namely clan politics, Soviet regionalism and Islam. However, the impact of each of these factors on democratization in the region has not been as great as has been initially assumed. In this regard nationalism and the way it has been employed by the political elites in post-Soviet Central Asia, particularly in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan is more of a hindrance to democratization than clan politics, Soviet regionalism and Islam.