The Pitfalls of Family Rule: Patronage Norms, Family Overreach, and Political Crisis in Kazakhstan and Beyond

In The Pitfalls of Family Rule, Barbara Junisbai questions the conceptual divide separating democracy from non-democracy, as well as the conceptual divide separating ＂strong＂ authoritarian rulers from ＂weak＂ ones. Focusing on patronage, endemic to post-Soviet Eurasia, but also present the world over, she untangles the spoils agreements that bind elites to strong-man presidents. Incorporating multiple case studies, including an in-depth investigation into Kazakhstan over the span of 20-plus years, Junisbai demonstrates the power of institutional norms to hold seemingly un-constrainable rulers accountable in surprising and unexpected ways. ＂Strong＂ autocrats can stumble even when they set in place robust, pro-presidential institutions, while ＂weak＂ autocrats can endure by upholding normative contracts that elites perceive as fair and just.

An important lesson emerges from this The Pitfalls of Family Rule: Not even the most personalist of regimes functions free of rules. The institutions that autocrats claim control over also lay claim over them.

Barbara Junisbai is Associate Professor of organizational studies at Pitzer College. Drawing on her personal experience researching, living, and working in a range of authoritarian contexts, she is committed to the co-creation of generative, accountable, and transparent human collectives.