Decentralization or Manipulation? An Analysis of Change within Pasture Management Institutions in Tajikistan

Abstract: This study discusses how different agents shape institutional change in Tajikistan, and ultimately how this affects the process of decentralization within pasture management institutions. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how decentralization takes place in the context of institutional change, and to increase our understanding of the potential barriers to the effective decentralization of natural resources. Mahoney and Thelen’s theory of gradual institutional change is used to determine which agents drive institutional change, and in turn, what type of change is produced as a result. The analysis is based on field notes from conferences uniting main stakeholders in pasture governance, interviews with key informants and livestock owners and a desk review of pasture management legislation. The results reveal that although there are agents actively seeking to create change, notably international organizations and parts of the government, there are also agents that seek ways to contradict it. A combination of strong veto power and a high level of discretion strengthens agents seeking to preserve the status quo. These factors are exacerbated by a high level of institutional ambiguity. Ultimately, the political and institutional environment favours agents exploiting pasture management institutions for personal gain, making the successful decentralization of pasture resources in Tajikistan unlikely.