@article{ART003330229},
author={HAN JEE MAN and Kang Sung Chul and YeChan Moon},
title={A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang},
journal={Asia Review},
issn={2234-0386},
year={2026},
volume={16},
number={1},
pages={267-306}
TY - JOUR
AU - HAN JEE MAN
AU - Kang Sung Chul
AU - YeChan Moon
TI - A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang
JO - Asia Review
PY - 2026
VL - 16
IS - 1
PB - 아시아연구소
SP - 267
EP - 306
SN - 2234-0386
AB - This study examines the capital-centered spatial politics of Kim Jong Un’s regime in North Korea after the Eighth Party Congress in 2021 through a comparative authoritarianism framework, focusing on the cases of Turkmenistan (1991–2025) and Kazakhstan (1997–2019), both of which pursued analogous policies during specific historical periods. In each case, the state forcefully promoted capital-centered spatial politics with the aim of consolidating the supreme leader’s authority and intensifying the cult of personality. By comparatively analyzing Ashgabat in Turkmenistan, Nur-Sultan (currently Astana) in Kazakhstan, and Pyongyang in North Korea, this article explores the ways in which authoritarian regimes strengthen social control through spatial politics. It does so by applying Gerschewski’s tripartite framework of legitimation, repression, and co-optation, and by empirically testing the argument through GIS-based spatial measurement data.
KW - Comparative authoritarianism;Spatial Politics;North Korea;Pyongyang;Turkmenistan;Kazakhstan
DO -
UR -
ER -
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul and YeChan Moon. (2026). A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang. Asia Review, 16(1), 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul and YeChan Moon. 2026, "A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang", Asia Review, vol.16, no.1 pp.267-306.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul, YeChan Moon "A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang" Asia Review 16.1 pp.267-306 (2026) : 267.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul, YeChan Moon. A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang. 2026; 16(1), 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul and YeChan Moon. "A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang" Asia Review 16, no.1 (2026) : 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN; Kang Sung Chul; YeChan Moon. A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang. Asia Review, 16(1), 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN; Kang Sung Chul; YeChan Moon. A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang. Asia Review. 2026; 16(1) 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul, YeChan Moon. A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang. 2026; 16(1), 267-306.
HAN JEE MAN, Kang Sung Chul and YeChan Moon. "A Comparative Study of Capital-Centered Spatial Politics in Authoritarian Regimes: The Cases of Ashgabat, Nur-Sultan (Astana), and Pyongyang" Asia Review 16, no.1 (2026) : 267-306.
