Description
Book SynopsisThis book brings together a series of innovative contributions which provide an eclectic view of how theorizing politics plays out in Central Asia. How are the concepts of governance, legitimacy, ideology, power, order, and the state framed in the region? How can we use the experiences of the Central Asian states to renovate political theorizing? In addressing these questions, the volume relies on the contributions of many young and local researchers, whose chapters are primed to address three key themes: exploring models of governance, revealing ideological justifications, and reframing state and order. Utilizing a range of single and comparative case studies from across the Central Asian space, this illuminating and original volume opens up a new space for political theorists, regional specialists and students of politics to begin reconsidering how we approach the theorization of regions of the world assumed to be on the periphery.
Trade Review“Theorizing Central Asian Politics is a book that is destined to have a long shelf-life, due to its innovative approach that seeks to reframe theoretically the work of scholars with first-class knowledge of Central Asia, its languages, its politics and its societies.” (Luca Anceschi, Inner Asia, Vol. 21, 2019)
“The editors aimed to plant a seed to discuss political theorization starting from practices in Central Asia, but they exceeded expectations. This book marks the development of new research trails that could be the roots of a reflourishing of general political theory.” (Gian Marco Moisé, Central Asian Survey, Vol. 38 (4), 2019)
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Chapter 1. Political Theory and Central Asia: An Introduction. Rico Isaacs and Alessandro Frigerio
SECTION I. Exploring Models of Governance
Chapter 2. Legitimacy and Legitimation in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. Rico Isaacs and Sofya du Boulay
Chapter 3. Governmentalization of Kazakhstani State: Between Governmentality and Neopatrimonial Capitalism. Assel Tutumlu
Chapter 4. Theorizing the managerialism-neoliberalism-development nexus: Changing donor landscapes and persistence of practices in Kyrgyzstan. Liga Rudzite
Chapter 5. Rawlsian Liberalism and Rationalistic Maturidi Islam in Central Asia. Galym Zhussipbek and Kairat Moldashev
SECTION II. Revealing Ideological Justifications
Chapter 6. In Search for “National Purpose”: in Theory and Practice. Formation and Main Features of National ideologies in post-Soviet Central Asia. Parviz Mullojanov
Chapter 7. Compartmentalized Ideology: Presidential Addresses and Legitimation in Kazakhstan. Diana Kudaibergenova
Chapter 8. Beyond “Personality Cults”: Sacralization of Power in Kazakhstan and the Concept of Monarchy. Adrien Fauve
Chapter 9. Eternal Futurostan: Myths, Fantasies and the Making of Astana in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Mikhail Akulov
SECTION III. Reframing State and Order
Chapter 10. The State Identities in post-Soviet Foreign Policy: Theories and Cases in Central Asia. Selbi Hanova
Chapter 11. The Heartland of IR Theory? Central Asia as an ‘International Society’ between Realism and Liberalism. Filippo Costa Buranelli
Chapter 12. The Incomplete State: Re-conceptualizing State and Society Relations in Central Asia. Viktoria Akchurina
Chapter 13. Driving in Almaty: Ironic Perspectives on Domestic Anarchical Society. Alessandro Frigerio
Chapter 14. Postscript: Dude Where is my Theory? Rico Isaacs and Alessandro Frigerio
