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This 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.

Theorizing Central Asian Politics: The State, Ideology and Power

Table 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