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Introduction to Central Asia
(Part 2)Rob Kevlihan
Presented at the Centre for International Studies, Dublin City University, April 2006
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Population Characteristics Arbitrary state boundaries establishedby Stalin’s nationality polices in 1920sand 30s.Significant ethnic minorities in mostCentral Asian states – from within the
region and from other parts of theformer USSR
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Political Overview All states became independent at break-up of USSR in 1991
Heads of Communist parties typically took over in 1991 (exception Tajikistan)Need for stability emphasized – to avoidexample of Tajik Civil War
Former Communist party heads remain incontrol in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan andTurkmenistan
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Continuities in Governance “Sovietism”: bureaucracy, patronage, localism
and centralization. governance was dividedbetween two different spheres of concern -one relating to strategy, security, military andstate ideology that was controlled by Moscowand another relating to appointments of localcadres, distribution of power and economicperks that was controlled by indigenousleaders, with the frontier between the twoconstantly shifting (Oliver Roy).
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Governance ArrangementsPolitical institutions typically reflectPresidential systems – highly centralized
Patronage networks often where realpower and influence lies (Shadowstates, organized crime)
Concern for democratic veneer –though free and fair elections still a goalto be attained
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Development StatusUNDP Human Development Indicators rank countries from 1 to 177, 1 being the best off.
Kazakhstan, the best off, has a ranking of 80;Turkmenistan second best at 97Tajikistan is the worst off (ranked 122),followed by Uzbekistan (111) and Kyrgyzstan
(109) All are medium developed states – onlycountry worse off than Tajikistan in CIS isMoldova
