"this book tackles head on some of the most important question in contemporary democratisation studies. In particular, why do states that start out with similar levels of political and cultural development end up with such diverse outcomes? Based on an impressive detailed knowledge of the Central Asian states and a sophisticated application of existing theories of institutional design, in her analysis of patterns of continuity and change Luong transcends these approaches by stressing the complex dynamics of the transitional process itself. This is an original ground-breaking study that makes an important contribution to comparative politics and area studies alike. The book represents an important advance in studies of the postcommunist transitions."
1. The continuity of change: old formulas and new institutions
2. Explaining institutional design in transitional states : beyond
structure verseus agency
3. Sources of continuity : the soviet legacy in central Asia
4. Sources of change: the transitional context in central Asia
5. Establishing an electoral system in kyrgyzstan : rise of the
regions
6. Establishing an an electoral system in Uzbekistan : revenge
of the center
7. Establishing an electoral system in kazakhstan: the center's
rise and the regions' vervenge
8. Institutional change through continuity: shipfting power and
prosepcts for democracy