Almanac of law. Issue 17 (2026), pages 423–429.

DOI: 10.33663/2524-017X-2026-17-423-429

Skrypniuk O. О.
Authoritarian political regime in Central Asian states: the constitutional and legal dimension

The conducted study establishes that the authoritarian political regime in the states of Central Asia is of a complex nature and is determined by a combination of constitutional-legal, historical, political, and social factors. Its resilience is explained not only by the legacy of Soviet totalitarianism, but also by deeper structural features of regional development that contribute to the preservation of authoritarian governance. It has been demonstrated that traditional practices of clan-based governance and nepotism play a significant role in the consolidation of authoritarianism, substituting formal institutional mechanisms of public administration with informal networks. This results in a discrepancy between the formal (legal) and actual constitutions, conferring a fictitious character upon constitutional norms and undermining the principle of the rule of law.

It is substantiated that the post-colonial status of Central Asian states, along with the influence of external actors -primarily Russia and China -constitutes an important factor in sustaining authoritarian regimes. Neocolonial practices, economic dependence, and political pressure contribute to the persistence of non-democratic governance models while simultaneously limiting the prospects for democratic transformation. The cumulative effect of an undemocratic geopolitical environment further reinforces authoritarian tendencies. It has also been revealed that ethno-political challenges of state- and nation-building, as well as security factors (in particular, the threat of terrorism), generate a societal demand for strong centralized authority, perceived as a guarantor of stability. This legitimizes authoritarian practices and reduces incentives for democratic change.

In the constitutional-legal dimension, authoritarianism is entrenched through the institutionalization of strong presidential power, the erosion of checks and balances, frequent and politically motivated constitutional amendments, and the instrumental use of legislation to legitimize the cult of the leader. A specific manifestation of this is the adoption of personalized constitutional laws aimed at prolonging political power. The case of Kazakhstan demonstrates that even under conditions of formal power transition and partial reforms, the political regime retains its authoritarian essence. Modernization processes are largely declarative or economic in nature and are not accompanied by substantive democratization of the political and legal system. The electoral process remains controlled, the opposition marginalized, and the parliament limited in its powers. It is concluded that authoritarianism in Central Asia has evolved into a stable and self-reproducing model of political organization that adapts to contemporary challenges while preserving its core features. Consequently, the prospects for democratization in the region remain limited due to the combination of internal structural barriers and external authoritarian influences.

Keywords: authoritarian political regime, Central Asia, constitutional law, constitutionalism.

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Дата першого надходження рукопису до видання: 23.03.2026
Дата прийнятого до друку рукопису після рецензування: 09.04.2026
Дата публікації: 30.04.2026