Building on my theme of the possibilities and problems for an “Eurasian Spring”, neweruasia‘s Schwartz and I have co-written a three-part article series entitled, “Life After the Taghut”, for the new online magazine Fair Observer. Therein we explore scenarios for regime evolution, change, or breakdown after Uzbekistan’s strongman president, Islam Karimov, inevitably dies (and yes, the publication of the series is intended to coincide with his 74th birthday). In the first and second parts, we use both recent and older historical examples of other despotic regimes as tentative models and attempt to anticipate a bit about the choices that could be faced by a post-Karimov regime. In the final (and still upcoming) part, we explore how a certain social, economic, ideological and historical “logic” in Uzbekistan could cause a post-Karimov regime to place their country on a direct path to Islamicization, and what that would even mean.

Regarding the title, those of you familiar with political Islam shall understand the reference to طاغوت (taghut), an Arabic Islamic term meaning “to cross the limits, overstep boundaries” or “to rebel” vis-à-vis divine authority. Traditionally a term connoting idolatry, it is mentioned in the politically significant Qur’anic verse 4:76 (which Schwartz and I quote in the final part of the series). During the medieval period, it has was used by Muslims to describe the rampaging Mongol khans and their vassals. Today, in contemporary Islamic political theory, it has come to be used to describe dictatorships, i.e., as violating the will of God.

You can read the piece here: http://www.fairobserver.com/article/life-after-taghut