Abstract

Tajikistan is the poorest country in the region. It has been ruled since 1992 by the region’s longest-serving head of state, Emomali Rahmon. This chapter unpacks the means by which Rahmon has managed to stay in power: using repression to stifle dissent, creating a kleptocratic and nepotistic regime centered on his vast family, and legitimating his rule as the guarantor of peace in a country that experienced a bloody civil war during its first decade of independence. Tajikistan is one of the most migration-dependent countries in the world, with most migrants working in Russia, the country’s main patron. But the role of neighboring China is developing rapidly, inhibiting the agency of the Tajik government to determine its foreign policy. While Rahmon can rule indefinitely, his son Rustam appears to be his chosen successor. The chapter concludes by reflecting on the challenges the country faces in the coming years.