What role do the security institutions play in the domestic power structure of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan? Do they contribute towards stabilizing undemocratic regimes in Central Asia? Are they instrumentalized by the ruling powers for domestic political purposes? A BICC research program funded by the Volkswagen Foundation is studying the “Role of the security sector for the stabilization and dynamics of semi-authoritarian and authoritarian regimes in Central Asia”.