Browsing by Author "Czachor, Rafał"

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    Democratic Transition or Autocratic Adjustment? Constitutional Amendments in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in 2022–2023
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2024) Czachor, Rafał
    Central Asian states have recently implemented significant constitutional reforms. In the case of the authoritarian republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the nature of the constitutional amendments, introduced in 2022 and 2023, respectively, is hard to accurately assess. On the one hand, they are a step towards democratization and strengthened guarantees of human rights and freedoms; on the other, they reinforce the current undemocratic government mechanisms. This article discusses the most recent constitutional reforms in both countries, distinguishing three main areas of change: ideology, social issues, and governance mechanisms. It is argued that these reforms generally fall within the paradigm of authoritarian constitutionalism and are an adjustment of the countries’ constitutions to the current needs of their undemocratic presidents.
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    Non-parliamentary Representative Bodies in Post-Soviet Authoritarian States: Cases of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. A Comparative Study
    (Wydawnictwo KUL, 2025) Czachor, Rafał
    The following paper zooms in on the legal frameworks and the roles in the governance processes of non-parliamentary representative bodies in four post-Soviet authoritarian states: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. These bodies – rooted in the principles of authoritarian and populist constitutionalism – serve as instruments to strengthen executive power while presenting a façade of democratic governance. The study highlights the diverse origins, organization, and functions of these institutions, including the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan, the People’s Kurultai of Kyrgyzstan, and the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan. Despite differences in structure and legal mandates, these bodies share a common purpose: consolidating state authority to enhance formal societal representation. The paper reveals the instrumental role of these bodies in maintaining autocratic regimes, manipulating democratic norms, and ensuring regime stability through direct control by the executive power (the Presidents).