The Process of Political Institutionalization in the Turkic Republics: An Inventory of the Last Two Decades

Abstract

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the political systems of the Turkic Republics (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan) were mainly evaluated on the basis of international relations. Since such approaches tend to ignore these countries' internal dynamics, it is necessary to develop a new framework of analysis which takes internal dynamics into account. This study examines the political changes these Republics underwent in the last two decades, focusing especially on institutions, democratization and systems. The study draws some conclusions about these countries' political systems with regard to structures, differentiation and potential for change.