Leiden University Student Repository

Berlo, Robin van (2019)

Using the Islamic threat as a means of regime consolidation in Central Asia

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

Contradictory to the widespread belief that after the Cold War a wave of democratisation would engulf the world, many post-Soviet states descended into authoritarianism. In tradition of their Soviet history, the Central Asian regimes declared themselves strictly secular. However, these countries, too, are affected by increasing Islamic radicalism. This thesis therefore researches the link between regime consolidation in Central Asia and a (perceived) Islamic threat. It tries to answer the question whether and how the Central Asian states are instrumentalising a fear of Islamic radicalism to increase their hold on power. I have included five case studies to assess the research question, which are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. As it turns out, Central Asian governments use a (perceived) Islamic threat in order to eliminate opposition and control their population. Increased security mainly served as a justification for increased surveillance and...Show moreContradictory to the widespread belief that after the Cold War a wave of democratisation would engulf the world, many post-Soviet states descended into authoritarianism. In tradition of their Soviet history, the Central Asian regimes declared themselves strictly secular. However, these countries, too, are affected by increasing Islamic radicalism. This thesis therefore researches the link between regime consolidation in Central Asia and a (perceived) Islamic threat. It tries to answer the question whether and how the Central Asian states are instrumentalising a fear of Islamic radicalism to increase their hold on power. I have included five case studies to assess the research question, which are Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. As it turns out, Central Asian governments use a (perceived) Islamic threat in order to eliminate opposition and control their population. Increased security mainly served as a justification for increased surveillance and persecution.Show less

Central Asia

Islamic threat

Regime consolidation

Radicalisation

Author

Berlo, Robin van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Russia and Eurasia

Supervisors

Skalamera, Morena

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en