The Presidentialization of Political Parties in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus

Description

This book analyses the presidentialization of parties in three countries of the post-Soviet space - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan - and the role of this phenomenon in their recent political history. The concept of presidentialization of politics means that parties tend to adjust by becoming ‘presidentialised’ in the sense that parties delegate their leaders-as- Presidents to shape both their electoral and governing strategies. The presidentialization of parties refers to institutional resources, constraints and opportunities. It can be also described both as centralization of leadership and a style of government, overlapping with that of personalization of politics that it consists of personal characteristics, attitudes, personal capital and charisma in making politics, instead. Since their introduction, the concept of presidentialization have been mostly analysed within the Western or other democratic countries. Very little attention, however, has been paid to the phenomenon presidentialization of political parties in non-democratic countries or in countries with a transitional form of government . This volume enhances our theoretical understanding of the political role of the Presidents of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus in controlling the legislative space and elected officials. Acknowledgments Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables 1 The Presidentialization and the Party of Power in Post-soviet States Introduction The Presidentialization of Political Parties in Belarus, Russia, and Kazakhstan Research Design The Book Structure References 2 The Presidentialization of Russian Political Parties Introduction The Russian Constitutional Setting The Genetic Feature of Russian Parties Elections and the Rise of ‘The Party of Power’ The President and the Party of Power Conclusion References 3 The Presidentialization of Kazakh Political Parties Introduction The Kazakh Constitutional Setting The Genetic Features of Kazakh Parties Stage 1: Formation of the RPP Otan as the Party of the President Stage 2: Strengthening the Political Influence of the RPP Otan Phase 3: Establishing Nur Otan as the Dominant Political Force in Kazakhstan Phase 4: Consolidation of the Party System of the Republic of Kazakhstan in a 1+2 Format Prospects for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Party System Nur Otan, Presidentialization, and Infornal Networks Conclusion References 4 The Presidentialization of Belarusian Political Parties Introduction The Role of the President in the Belarusian Constitution The Emergence of the Lukashenko Era Belarus Party Genetic Feature Conclusion References 5 The Presidentialization of Political Parties in Post-soviet States: Theoretical Challenges Introduction References Appendix List of Political Parties Index