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Abstract

The paper explores the behaviour patterns elected legislators in Central Eurasia apply in order to survive political careers under the centralized control and limited political freedoms. The former communist space in the region maintained closed authoritarian systems despite several waves of democratization, reforms and transition aid provided by neo-liberal institutions. Adopting and inspired by Mac Ginty’s work on social practices that constitute everyday peace such as avoidance, ambiguity, ritualized politeness and others, we further expand the proposed typology with other ‘survival strategies’ or behaviors largely employed from everyday peace and security studies, such as adaptation, coping, joint work and mutual help, mimicry, loyalty and performance, and apply to elected legislators in the former Communist space (Central Asia and Russia). We claim that similar to everyday individual security behaviors, the behaviors of the elected MPs and their decisions stem from own or individual interest and security needs, whereas practices such as contestation and resistance in authoritarian contexts are risky and detrimental for their careers.

Key words: survival strategies, parliament, authoritarian regimes, everyday, Central Eurasia