The Traditional Self-Governing Institution Mahalla In Relation With State Policies And International Organizations In Tajikistan

Celem niniejszej pracy jest analiza przemian zachodzących w tradycyjnej instytucji samo-rządzącej się mahalla w okresie od uzyskaniu niepodległości przez Tadżykistan w 1991 roku do roku 2010. Kluczowe pytanie badawcze dotyczy charakteru obecnej transformacji mahalli w kontekście polityki tadżyckiego państwa oraz nowych koncepcji rozwoju społecznego przyniesionych do Tadżykistanu przez organizacje międzynarodowe.

This study analyzes various aspects of the interaction of state administration and international organizations with the traditional self-governing institution of the mahalla in Tajikistan, by linking a theoretical approach with field research. Particularly, two main questions are addressed in the work. First, the relationship between the mahalla and the state administration, I provide insights into the legal basis of this relationship, as well as into its practical implications. The second issue analyzed is the complex problem of donor policies regarding local development with regard to adopting elements of traditional self-government into the tenets of their development strategies. The main conclusion of this study is that neither the state nor international organizations have managed to develop a model of cooperation with the mahalla based on the principles of equality and partnership. Instead, this traditional institution is subjected to various modifications and changes aimed at conforming it with the requirements of the various parties concerned.