society during the post-Soviet transition. Adam Seligman (1992) has said that the problems of establishing civil society come down to "constimting trust." Tmst is beginning to be rebuilt in Azerbaijan and private university growth is evidence of the efforts being exerted at restoring trust. Private universities like Khazar face their unique challenges, however, at establishing trust. Rooting out comıpt practices within the institution and insuring that access to the university is not reserved for the wealthy and well connected will need to be pursued aggressively. Improving the quality of the average student's academic experience and the professional development of university faculty will have to be important priorities for private university administrators. And only as they demonstrate concem for the issues that affect the welfare of the larger society, can they act effectively as agents of change in Azerbaijani society.
The dynamics of political, social, and economic change in the former Soviet republics are staggering. The impact of these changes on govemance and management practices in higher education are only beginning to be examined by specialists in higher education. Just as higher education institutions throughout the world are undergoing transition within changing social and economic environments, private universities like Khazar are coping and carving out a space to operate in difficult circumstances. The conditions during this formative period are likely to evolve in unpredictable directions over the coming years. . The case of Khazar University and its counterparts across the former Soviet Union deserve continued scrutiny as their birth and infancy give way to unknown organizational forms and submit to the twists and tums of their host societies' attempts to establish stable institutions.
