Explaining the failure of legislative agency in patronal divided executives: deputy meaning making and its impact on legislative quality in Kyrgyzstan 2010–2020

Figures & data

Figure 1. Analytical sign structure for studying meaning making in an authoritarian legislature.

Table 1. Relationship between interpretant categories, corresponding legislative strength and explanations for executive dominance.

Sign	Interpretant categories developed through thematic analysis	Corresponding legislative strength category	Intervening. cultural, social, institutional factors
Legislative function	Over initiation of legislation, perceived as main role, weakness of oversight and control functions	Capacity of legislature to develop and enact quality legislation	Weak parliamentary expertise, political infighting, weak party institutionalization
Composition of Legislature	Site for the protection of private interests	Capacity of legislature to hold executive to account	Political economy of patronal system, executive control of deputies through “suspended punishment”
Representation	Representation; focus on regional aspect of representation, legislation derived from “real life”, importance of institutional framework	Capacity of legislature for representation	Lack of formal regional representation and representation activities weakens public legitimation of parliament