Join us for the virtual discussion
What's At Stake In Tajikistan's Presidential Elections
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Tajikistan is headed to a crucial presidential election on October 11, where incumbent Emomali Rahmon is once more on the ballot, who is in power since 1992.
The other four candidates on the ballot are, Rustam Latifzoda of the Agrarian Party; Abduhalim Ghafforov of the Socialist Party; Miroj Abdulloev of the Communist Party; Rustam Rahmatzoda of the Party of Economic Reforms.
The only opposition party functioning inside the country, the Social Democratic Party boycotting the polls, incumbent Emomali Rahmon is clearly in the advantageous position to win the election, which is held against the backdrop of speculations that he is preparing his son Rustam Emomali as his successor, when and if he decides to step down.
With Tajikistan facing severe economic challenges, due to the dramatic decrease in remitances from the Tajik migrant workers in Russia, and growing domestic crackdown against opponents and perceived opponents of the regime, this panel will analyze what's at stake in Tajikistan's presidential elections, and what it means for the country's future.
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Sirojiddin Tolibov is the Managing Editor of RFE/RL’s Tajik Service. Having reported on operations against Islamic militants from the main hot spots in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan throughout his journalistic career, he is an expert on security matters, Islamic groups, human rights, and social and economic issues in Central Asia. Hundreds of his articles have been published across the globe in English, Russian, Persian, Turkish, and Uzbek. He made several short documentaries on Islamic militancy, corruption and on human rights issues in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Prior to RFE/RL, Tolibov spent 20 years with the BBC World Service’s Central Asian unit as a reporter, manager, news anchor, and editor. In 2001, he was announced the Service’s Best Reporter. He has also performed leading roles in award winning BBC radio dramas. Tolibov holds honorary masters degree from the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies.
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Suzanne Levi-Sanchez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College where she teaches Security Strategies with a focus on the Middle East and Central Asia. Professor Levi-Sanchez holds a Ph.D. from Rutgers University in Political Science in the sub-fields of comparative politics, international relations, and women and politics with research interests in political ethnography, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Her prior academic appointments include Princeton University (funded by IREX and the American Institute for Afghan Studies) and the University of Illinois (funded by a grant from USAID). Dr. Levi-Sanchez also received funding for her research from the University of Delaware, UCLA, the Mina Houtan Foundation, and Rutgers University, which supported her fieldwork along the Tajik/Afghan border from 2009-2015. She is the author of a number of publications including a book from Routledge, The Afghan-Central Asia Borderlands: The State and Local Leaders. Her second book, Local Governance At The Periphery: Informal Organizations in Tajik/Afghan Badakhshan, is forthcoming from the University of Michigan Press (2021).
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Edward Lemon is Research Assistant Professor at The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University, Washington D.C. teaching site. He has previously held positions at the Wilson Center and Columbia University. Dr. Lemon’s research focuses on authoritarianism and security issues in Central Asia. He is editor of the book Critical Approaches to Security in Central Asia (Routledge, 2018). His research has been published in Democratization, Central Asian Affairs, Caucasus Survey, Journal of Democracy, Central Asian Survey, the Review of Middle Eastern Studies and The RUSI Journal.
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)
Event Number (access code): 120 162 3231
Event password: CAP1007
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This event is on the record, open to the public, and will be recorded.
Photo by Picasa
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The Central Asia Program
Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES)
Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University
1957 E Street, NW | Suite 412 | Washington, DC | 20052
The Central Asia Program (CAP) promotes academic and policy research on contemporary Central Asia, and serves as an interface for the policy, academic, diplomatic, and business communities.
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