
The Pitfalls of Family Rule
Patronage Norms, Family Overreach, and Political Crisis in Kazakhstan and Beyond
Barbara Junisbai(Author)
Cornell University Press
Published on 15. February 2025
Book
Hardback
222 pages
978-1-5017-7906-0 (ISBN)
Description
In The Pitfalls of Family Rule, Barbara Junisbai questions the conceptual divide separating democracy from nondemocracy as well as that 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 strongman presidents. Incorporating multiple case studies, including an in-depth investigation into Kazakhstan over the span of twenty plus years, Junisbai demonstrates the power of institutional norms to hold seemingly unconstrainable 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 The Pitfalls of Family Rule: not even the most personalist of regimes functions free of rules. The institutions over which autocrats claim control also lay claim over them.
An important lesson emerges from The Pitfalls of Family Rule: not even the most personalist of regimes functions free of rules. The institutions over which autocrats claim control also lay claim over them.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Ithaca
United States
Product notice
Paper over boards
Illustrations
5 charts, 3 graphs - 3 Graphs - 5 Charts
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Weight
907 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5017-7906-0 (9781501779060)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Barbara Junisbai
The Pitfalls of Family Rule
Patronage Norms, Family Overreach, and Political Crisis in Kazakhstan and Beyond
E-Book
02/2025
Cornell University Press
€33.49
Available for download
Person
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.
Content
Introduction: Family Overreach and the Varied Fates of Personalist Presidents
1. Patronage as a Normative Institution
2. Nazarbayev Family Overreach and Presidential Resilience, 2001-2002 and 2007
3. Karimov Family Overreach and Presidential Resilience, 2005 and 2013-2014
4. Family Overreach and the Downfall of Multiple Eurasian Presidents: Akayev (2005), Bakiyev (2010), Yanukovych (2013-2014), and Nazarbayev (2022-2023)
5. Family Overreach and Presidential Downfall in Comparative Perspective
6. Family Rule and Family-Induced Crisis, the View from Eurasia
Conclusion: Authoritarianism, Conceptions and Reconceptions
1. Patronage as a Normative Institution
2. Nazarbayev Family Overreach and Presidential Resilience, 2001-2002 and 2007
3. Karimov Family Overreach and Presidential Resilience, 2005 and 2013-2014
4. Family Overreach and the Downfall of Multiple Eurasian Presidents: Akayev (2005), Bakiyev (2010), Yanukovych (2013-2014), and Nazarbayev (2022-2023)
5. Family Overreach and Presidential Downfall in Comparative Perspective
6. Family Rule and Family-Induced Crisis, the View from Eurasia
Conclusion: Authoritarianism, Conceptions and Reconceptions