Symbolic Legitimacy of Social Ordering and Conflict Settlement Practices: The Role of Collective Identities in Local Politics of Tajikistan

ABSTRACT

Collective identities like Islamic, kinship and geographical affiliations commit people to norms and practices of social ordering and influence their everyday practices. This article discusses how collective identities commit people in southern Tajikistan to patriarchal and authoritarian ordering and conflict settlement in view of unequal and contested distribution of power. A commitment to such illiberal norms and practices legitimises an exploitation of marginalised people. It discredits and prevents their discontent, court deals or open resistance. Furthermore, patriarchal and authoritarian conflict management ostracises rivals and/or suppresses those who criticise a hierarchical distribution of resources, co-optation deals, and patron-client exchanges.

KEYWORDS:

• Tajikistan
• collective identities
• Islam
• kinship
• authoritarian conflict management

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributor

Hafiz Boboyorov holds a PhD in Development Studies from the Center for Development Research, University of Bonn. His research interests cover existential security concerns and practices in shaping collective identity (including Islam and kinship), reciprocal and patronage networks and political systems in Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries.