ABSTRACT
The emergence of multi-party systems in post-independence and post-civil war Tajikistan and Uzbekistan has been another aspect of their transition from a Communist, one-party dominated rule. For these regimes the party can serve as a device for the discourse of patrimonial nationalism to manipulate and establish control over both states and societies, particularly during presidential and parliamentary elections. This chapter also shows how the leaders have been dealing with opposition political parties including Islamic ones in the ‘multi-party system’ societies like Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and the differences in the approach of the Tajik and Uzbek leaders in dealing with Islamic parties. The chapter also shows that in spite of the fact that both Tajikistan and Uzbekistan constitutionally have allowed multi-party systems in their respective countries, the regimes have been creating obstacles for the emergence of genuine opposition parties and even have sponsored and created ‘opposition’ parties.
