THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES: POLITICAL SYSTEM AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION IN KYRGYZSTAN’S POLITICAL LIFE (1991-2021)

Öz

To analyze the mobility in a country’s politics objectively, it is important to consider the issue at the constitutional level. The Kyrgyz Republic is a politically active country in Central Asia. This study examines the political transformation that Kyrgyzstan has seen since its establishment as a post-Soviet state. The analysis is conducted through the lens of political system analysis, employing a constitutional institutionalist approach. The constitutional amendments of the Kyrgyz Republic were examined by document analysis method within the scope of the study. In this sense, the study adds to the body of political science literature by examining how the nation’s constitutional amendments have affected political election processes, leadership changes, and the formation of patronal relationship networks. The primary conclusion of the study corroborates the study’s hypothesis, namely that the primary aim of constitutional amendments in Kyrgyzstan is not political stability but rather the leaders’ desire to fortify their relationships and themselves.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Kyrgyz Republic
• Constitutional Amendment
• Institutional Approach
• Political Instability
• Document Analysis.

Kaynakça

1. Azattyk. (2010). Биримдик жана өнүгүү коалициясы түзүлгөнү жарыяланды (Coalition for Unity and Development announced), https://www.azattyk.org/a/2250813.html (23 January, 2023).
2. Alkan, H. (2009). “Post-Soviet Politics in Kyrgyzstan: Between Centralism and Localism?” Contemporary Politics. 15 (3), 355-375.
3. Alkan, H. (2010). Otoriter Merkezileşmeye Karşı Merkezkaç Direnişinin Gölgesinde Siyasal İktidarsızlık. Ankara: Stratejik Düşünce Enstitüsü.
4. Alkan, H. (2011). Orta Asya Türk Cumhuriyetlerinde Siyasal Hayat ve Kurumlar. Ankara: USAK.
5. Alkan, H. (2018). Cumhurbaşkanlığı Sistemi: Kurumsalcı Yaklaşımın Işığında Yeni Siyasetin İzleri. Ankara: Liberte.
6. Coldoşov, A. (2017). “Kırgızistan İç Siyaseti” in Kırgızistan: Tarih-Toplum-Ekonomi-Siyaset. Ed., Cengiz Buyar. Bishkek: BYR Publishing House, 245-286.
7. Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. (1993).
8. Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2007).

9. Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2010).
10. Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. (2010-Rev.2016).
11. Easton, D. (1965). A Systems Analysis of Political Life. New York: John Wiley.
12. Engvall, J. (2017). “From Monopoly to Competition Constitutions and Rent Seeking in Kyrgyzstan”. Problems of Post Communism. 65 (4), 271-283.
13. Esengeldiev, A. (2017). “Kyrgyzstan’s 2016 Constitutional Referendum”, https://freedomhouse.org/report/analytical-brief/2017/kyrgyzstans-2016-constitutional-referendum (1 January, 2023).
14. Eurasianet. (2016). “Kyrgyzstan: Presidential Loyalist Named New PM.”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-presidential-loyalist-named-new-pm (2 January, 2023).
15. Eurasinet. (2017). “Kyrgyzstan: Most Competitive Presidential Race in Country’s History Taking Shape”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-most-competitive-presidential-race-in-countrys-history-taking-shape (1 January, 2023).
16. Eurasinet. (2019). “Kyrgyzstan: Former president on verge of losing immunity”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-former-president-on-verge-of-losing-immunity (1 January, 2023).
17. Freedom House. (2016). “Kyrgyzstan: Changes to Constitution Bolster Authoritarianism”, https://freedomhouse.org/article/kyrgyzstan-changes-constitution-bolster-authoritarianism (1 January, 2023).
18. Fumagalli, M. (2015). “Kyrgyzstan 2015: A Country Adrift?”. Asia Minor. 26, 469-481.
19. Fumagalli, M. (2016). “Semi-Presidentialism in Kyrgyzstan”, Semi-Presidentialism in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Ed., R. Elgie and S. Moestrup. Londra: Palgrave Macmillan, 173-205.
20. Ismailbekova, A. (2018). “Informal Governance and Corruptio-Transcending the Principal Agent and Collective Action Paradigms Kyrgyzstan Country Report Part 1 Macro Level”, A joined report by Basel Institute on Governance, https://baselgovernance.org/publications/informal-governance-and-corruption-transcending-principal-agent-and-collective-3 (1 January, 2023).
21. Kıral, B. (2020). “Document Analysis as a Qualitative Data Analysis Method.” Journal of Social Sciences Institute. 8 (15), 170-189.
22. Kırgız Cumhuriyeti MSK Bilgi Dairesi. (2017). “Merkez Seçim Komisyonu, 15 Ekim 2017 tarihinde Kırgızistan Cumhurbaşkanı seçimlerinin sonuçlarını belirledi”, https://shailoo.gov.kg/ru/news/1973/ (1 January, 2023).
23. Kırgızistan Ülke Bülteni. (2012). “Dış Ekonomik İlişkiler Kurulu”, https://www.deik.org.tr/uploads/kirgizistan-ulke-bulteni.pdf (1 January, 2023).
24. Leonard, P. (2020). “Kyrgyzstan: Politician’s mob rampage draws army onto the streets”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-politicians-mob-rampage-draws-army-onto-the-streets (1 January, 2023).
25. Meldon, M. (2016). “Kyrgyzstan’s Constitutional Referendum: Steering Populism Toward Securing Vested Interests”, https://constitutionnet.org/news/kyrgyzstans-constitutional-referendum-steering-populism-toward-securing-vested-interests (1 January, 2023).
26. OSCE. (2021). Kyrgyz Republic- Early Presidential Election 10 January 2021 Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions. Bishkek: OSCE.
27. OSCE. (2020). Kyrgyz Republıc Parliamentary Electıons 4 October 2020 Final Report. Warsaw: OSCE.
28. OSCE. (2016). Kyrgyz Republıc Parliamentary Elections 4 October 2015 Final Report. Warsaw: OSCE.
29. OSCE. (2012). Kyrgyz Republıc Presıdentıal Electıon 30 October 2011 Final Report. Warsaw: OSCE.
30. Öraz, S. (2006). “Tribal Connections within the Political Processes: The Case of Kyrgyzstan.” Journal of Central Asian and Caucasus Studies. 1 (2), 78-91.
31. Pannier, B. (2015). “In Kyrgyzstan, An Unexpected Victory For Atambaev’s Chosen Candidate”, https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-presidential-election-analysis-jeenbekov/28796176.html (1 January, 2023).
32. Pannier, B. (2016). “What’s in Kyrgyzstan’s Constitutional Referendum?”, https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-constitutional-referendum-whats-at-stake/28164053.html (1 January, 2023).
33. Pistan, C. (2019). “Pseudo Constitutionalism in Central Asia: Curse or Cure?”, https://www.sipotra.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Pseudo-Constitutionalism-in-Central-Asia-Curse-or-Cure.pdf (1 January, 2023).
34. Putz, C. (2020). “From Prison to Parliament: Meet Kyrgyzstan’s New Prime Minister”, https://thediplomat.com/2020/10/from-prison-to-parliament-meet-kyrgyzstans-new-prime-minister/ (1 January, 2023).
35. Putz, C. (2016). “Kyrgyzstan’s Controversial Constitutional Referendum”, https://thediplomat.com/2016/12/kyrgyzstans-controversial-constitutional-referendum/ (1 January, 2023).
36. RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service. (2017). “New Kyrgyz President Bestows ‘Hero’ Title On Predecessor Atambaev”, https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-jeenbekov-atambaev-hero-award/28882047.html (1 January, 2023).
37. Rickleton, C. (2019). “Kyrgyzstan: Pressured Ex-candidate Says He Wants No Part of Power”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-pressured-ex-candidate-says-he-wants-no-part-of-power (1 January, 2023).
38. Rickleton, C. (2020). “Kyrgyzstan’s China Debt: Between Crowdfunding and Austerity”, https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstans-china-debt-between-crowdfunding-and-austerity (1 January, 2023).
39. Ryabkov, M. (2008). “The north–south cleavage and political support in Kyrgyzstan”. Central Asian Survey. 27 (3-4), 301-316.
40. Tayfur, N. A. (2020). “Kyrgyzstan: New Cabinet, Premier Japarov Sworn in”, https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/kyrgyzstan-new-cabinet-premier-japarov-sworn-in/2022599 (1 January, 2023).
41. Trilling, D. (2010). “Kyrgyzstan: Bishkek Coalition Talks Back at Square One”, 12 Aralık 2010, http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62520 (1 January, 2023).
42. TURKPA. (2015). “4 Ekim 2015 Tarihinde Kırgız Cumhuriyeti’nde Gerçekleştirilen Parlamento Seçimlerine İlişkin Rapor”, https://turk-pa.org/tr/content/faaliyetler/preandparlelections/634_krgzistan_cumhuriyeti_parlamento_seimleri_raporu_4_ekim_2015 (1 January, 2023).
43. Wach, E. (2013). Learning about Qualitative Document Analysis. IDS Practice Papers.
44. Umarov, T. (2019). “The Failure of Atambayev’s Planned Power Transition”, https://carnegie.ru/2019/08/23/failure-of-atambayev-s-planned-power-transition-pub-79718 (1 January, 2023).