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In most Soviet successor states, the police (militia) are among the least trusted government agencies. The police are frequently seen as representatives of the state who are allowed to persecute ordinary citizens, extort bribes, and protect the real criminals. This leads to cycles of mutual antagonism in which society does not expect the police to perform their function properly, and the police are unable to enforce state regulation on society.

In the examples of Georgia and Kyrgyzstan in this book, one of the authors examine which domestic processes will likely fail and which have a chance to succeed in changing the post-Soviet police from a punitive institution into a more democratic entity. The book then continues to provide the reader with information on recent developments and the interests of the United States in Georgia and Kyrgyzstan. (Imprint: Nova)