Supporting Democratic Policing in Central Asia: Limitations of the OSCE

Abstract

Critics have argued that the provision of support by the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to Central Asian police risks reinforcing authoritarianism. This article examines OSCE police-related activities in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan during the 2010s, highlighting persistent gaps between the OSCE’s commitment to democratic policing and OSCE practices on the ground. It identifies two institutional mechanisms that skew implementation in favour of Central Asian governments: micromanagement by participating states and implementers’ adaption to institutional environments that are not conducive to democratic police governance. Police-related activities in Central Asia showcase the limitations and risks of providing international support to the security sectors of non-liberal states.