Chaos, Violence, Dynasty: Politics and Islam in Central Asia (Central Eurasia in Context, 24) - Softcover

McGlinchey, Eric

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0822961687 ISBN 13: 9780822961680

Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011

Synopsis

In the post-Soviet era, democracy has made little progress in Central Asia. In Chaos, Violence, Dynasty, Eric McGlinchey presents a compelling comparative study of the divergent political courses taken by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan in the wake of Soviet rule. McGlinchey examines economics, religion, political legacies, foreign investment, and the ethnicity of these countries to evaluate the relative success of political structures in each nation.
McGlinchey explains the impact of Soviet policy on the region, from Lenin to Gorbachev. Ruling from a distance, a minimally invasive system of patronage proved the most successful over time, but planted the seeds for current “neo-patrimonial” governments. The level of direct Soviet involvement during perestroika was the major determinant in the stability of ensuing governments. Soviet manipulations of the politics of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in the late 1980s solidified the role of elites, while in Kyrgyzstan the Soviets looked away as leadership crumbled during the ethnic riots of 1990. Today, Kyrgyzstan is the poorest and most politically unstable country in the region, thanks to a small, corrupt, and fractured political elite. In Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov maintains power through the brutal suppression of disaffected Muslims, who are nevertheless rising in numbers and influence. In Kazakhstan, a political machine fueled by oil wealth and patronage underlies the greatest economic equity in the region, and far less political violence.
McGlinchey’s timely study calls for a more realistic and flexible view of the successful aspects of authoritarian systems in the region that will be needed if there is to be any potential benefit from foreign engagement with the nations of Central Asia, and similar political systems globally.

About this title

About the Author

Eric McGlinchey is assistant professor of government and politics at George Mason University.

Review

"One of the most detailed analysis of Central Asian politics to date. . . . The historico-political analysis introduced here is a real tour de force, with McGlinchey examining the long-term structural causes of Central Asia's patronage systems while establishing a direct connection between the politics of perestroika and divergences in post-Soviet authoritarian developments. . . . McGlinchey knows the region very well, and adds a significant degree of analytical sophistication to first-class research."
International Affairs

An interesting and noteworthy contribution to the understanding of authoritarian dynamics in Central Asia. It is both fascinating and illustrative of wider patterns and pressures of authoritarian regimes that could be applied to other countries in the post-Soviet states.”
Europe-Asia Studies

McGlinchey makes a powerful case for rethinking how social scientists understand politics in authoritarian regimes and how practitioners should be going about promoting reform. Rich with pathbreaking insights into the nature of Central Asian politics and the role of Islam, this book is founded on impressive on-the-ground field work that brings the subject to life for readers.”
Henry Hale, George Washington University

Eric McGlinchey’s new book the product of extensive field research, impressive analytic skills, and a keen mind represents an excellent contribution to our understanding of state building and regime type in Central Asia. With a clear and engaging writing style that is rare among social scientists, he forwards an argument that is at once complex and analytically rewarding. The book will be crucial for anyone hoping to learn about or conduct research on the Central Asian state.”
Edward Schatz, University of Toronto

About this edition

• Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0822961687
• ISBN 13: 9780822961680
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 232