The Path to Political Stability during Regime Transition: The Case of Georgia and Tajikistan (1991-2004)

Abstract

This thesis seeks to explain the difference of outcome in political institutions and regime types in Georgia and Tajikistan. The research mainly focuses on the transitional period from 1991 to 2004. To explain the rationale behind the case selection, it would be important to underline several commonalities the countries shared in the past; the legacy of soviet institutions, economic and political instabilities, specifically, during the transitional period, and the Civil Wars. The comparative criteria are developed in relation to the governmental responsiveness. Thus, the institutional responsiveness to the conflicts, oppositions, and CSO/NGO movements as well as the membership in IGOs are examined. The geopolitical factors are also included in the criteria to explain the structural factors that shaped the transitional period in both countries and determined the international orientation of both countries. Using the afore-mentioned criteria this paper explains the point of divergence between the political regimes in both countries during the transitional period in 1991-2004.