There are many facets to nation-building in post-independence Uzbekistan, but its main focus is on the pride of history, culture, religion and language ingrained in the minds of the people. In fact, since 1991, the process has been more or less the same in all Central Asian countries, but Uzbekistan seems to be thriving.
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This is the second article in a series on the geopolitical situation in the Central Asian region. The first article, "Geopolitical Equations in Central Asia", which was published earlier, sought to give a comprehensive overview of the Central Asian region, discussing its geography, history, political equations changed after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the region's overall strategic importance. Of course, even though the region is generally described as 'Central Asia', all five countries need to understand their characteristics, as well as their similarities and differences, separately. Therefore, the next five articles will describe the geo-political situation of each country in the region, its historical, geographical, social and political aspects, and its overall significance. This article is about a strategically important country, Uzbekistan.
There are many reasons to prioritize Uzbekistan in the ranks of the five countries. Central and strategic in Central Asia, the country is surrounded by 'double landlocked' (five landlocked) countries. In fact, Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein (surrounded by Austria and Switzerland) are the only two countries in the world with a double landmass. Uzbekistan shares borders with all other Central Asian countries, namely Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. With a population of about 3.3 crore, it is the largest country in the region in terms of population. Not only that, Uzbekistan accounts for almost half of the total population in Central Asia. It is safe to say that this country, rich in natural and mineral resources, is the geopolitical hub of the Central Asian region.
Covering an area of approximately 4.5 million square kilometers, Uzbekistan has all kinds of geographical features. The mountainous region to the east, the beautiful Fergana Valley, the fertile valleys of the Sirdarya and Amudarya rivers, and the desert region to the west, are the geographical diversity. The region's two main rivers and their numerous tributaries, as well as a network of canals developed during the Soviet era, make most of Uzbekistan's land fertile. The predominantly agricultural country is a leader in the production of cotton, food grains, fruits and vegetables. The energy and mining business also plays an important role in the national income as it has abundant reserves of natural gas, uranium, gold, copper, lead, zinc, etc. Considering the five countries in the region, Uzbekistan is the second largest economy after Kazakhstan. In particular, agriculture, mining, industry and services,
Uzbekistan's strategic location, geographical diversity, abundant natural resources, population, diverse economy, along with its history are of paramount importance in the study of this country. In fact, the rich history of thousands of years has made a great contribution to the present national identity here, which has been discussed further. If you want to understand this country as a whole, history has no choice.
From ancient times the agrarian civilizations on the banks of the Amudarya and Sirdarya rivers flourished, featuring canal-based irrigation systems, metal implements and weapons, the breeding of high-class horses, and a modern urban culture surrounded by coastal walls. This region saw the rise of rich states like Bactria, Khorazm, Sogdiana, Fergana. The then trade route connecting Asia and Europe, known as the 'Silk Road', passed through this area; From which cities like Samarkand and Bukhara flourished. These cities became not only objects and goods, but also symbols of ethics, philosophy, science and art. These cities later gave the Muslim world many great thinkers, philosophers and scientists. The area, which was initially dominated by Persians, was gradually overrun by Turks from the north and east, and mingled here.
Politically, the region has never been under the domination of a single ruler. The early Persian rulers, the Greeks under Alexander, the short-lived Arabs in the Kushan Empire, the Samanid Empire of the Persian dynasty, the Mongol invasion under Genghis Khan, and the subsequent empire established by Amir Timur (Timurlang). In the middle of the 19th century, the entire province was annexed by the Russian Tsar and annexed by the Russian Empire. The common thread in all these political developments is that the region never had stable boundaries, which were first drawn during the Soviet period.
In 1924, the Soviet Union systematically divided Central Asia, and the Republic of Uzbekistan was formed, with Uzbeks making up more than 75% of the population. Uzbeks played an important role in the administration of the state through positive policies. They were given educational and cultural privileges, and efforts were made for the scientific development of the Uzbek language. Along with this, transport, communication, education, health, etc. in the state. Significant progress was made in the field. In short, the seeds of modern Uzbek nationalism were sown in Soviet times. Despite this, the freedom movement did not stand here. In fact, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan gained independence.
After independence, in all Central Asian countries, the then Soviet leader was elected president, with Uzbekistan being no exception. Despite this, the first president, Islam Karimov, led the nation on a new path. Under his leadership, the country erased the 'Soviet-centric' identity and socialist system. On the one hand embraced democracy and the free market; And on the other hand created a new identity based on Uzbek nationalism. President Islam Karimov is said to be the father of modern-day Uzbekistan. He led the country for a total of 25 years from independence till his untimely demise in 2016.
There are many facets to nation-building in post-independence Uzbekistan, but its main focus is on the pride of history, culture, religion and language ingrained in the minds of the people. In fact, since 1991, the process has been more or less the same in all Central Asian countries, but Uzbekistan seems to be thriving.
Since the nation-building process started from the government level, it is called 'top down' process. In this, the Uzbek language gained respect in the country; Insisted on using the same language in government work; She also emphasized teaching in schools and universities. Adopted the Latin script, replacing the old Cyrillic script used to write the Uzbek language. On the other hand, by removing the symbols of the Soviet state, Uzbek cultural and historical symbols were restored. Names of places, stations, institutions changed. Historical monuments, mosques, madrassas were restored. Revived historical greats in Uzbekistan, especially Timur, in social life. Many examples in history, be it the 2500th anniversary of ancient cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, the 660th anniversary of Timur, the glorification of clerics like Imam Bukhari and Khoja Nakshaband,
Uzbek nation-building initiatives are often criticized by scholars of international politics as extreme or oppressive. This includes extremist pride of nationality; Obstinacy in the use of linguistic, religious, cultural symbols; And it is said that men are honored for certain events in history. Also in such a process Russian, Tajik, Kyrgyz, e. There is also a perception that the identity of minority groups is not included, which creates a sense of alienation among them. But it is equally true that this process is more or less necessary in the early stages of independence. Because it creates a sense of unity, brotherhood and belonging to the nation among the common citizens. People in Uzbekistan seem to talk a lot about the nation, its history, culture, language.
In any newly independent country, nation-building has to be accompanied by a state-building process; This includes the development of democratic institutions, the smooth running of the administration, the creation of local self-government institutions, an independent judiciary, and the protection of human rights. On this side, however, Uzbekistan is criticized for lagging behind. Of course, as democracy in this country is still in its infancy, there is a lot of room for improvement. Regular elections are held in the country, the legislature is active, and the locals are involved in politics in the name of 'Mohalla Samiti', which is also a sign of a vibrant and growing democracy. The development of democracy is a continuous process, and it is the responsibility of the constituents within the country. Because the democratic system cannot be imposed. In this regard, Uzbekistan has taken significant steps in recent years.
On the one hand, the formation of national identity and the development of the democratic system, on the other hand, the overall progress of the country. The infrastructure is readily available, especially for matches here; The cities are clean, beautiful and well-equipped; The standard of living of the people is high. Railways, roads and airports are up to date. All major cities in the country are connected by bullet train. In 2016, the railway connecting Fargana Valley in the far east with the rest of the country was completed. The country's diverse economy has been mentioned at the outset. For centuries, Uzbekistan was known only as a raw material exporter. But now the emphasis is on the production of goods and services by developing 'special economic zones'. It will still take decades to taste the fruits of these policies. Also, the country lags far behind in terms of education and health.
Uzbekistan is a young country. The country has about 24% children in the age group of 0-14 years and more than 60% of the population in the working age group. But the scarcity of higher education and employment opportunities is a major problem facing the youth. This adds fuel to the fire of terrorism, extremism, and drug trafficking. For the last 27 years, the country has been facing security challenges. In the 1990s, separatist forces became active in parts of the Fergana Valley. The Karimov government cracked down on them and temporarily expelled them from Uzbekistan. However, the militant group, known as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, is still active in Afghanistan and Pakistan's FATA province. He initially announced his involvement with Al Qaeda and later with ISIS. These and other organizations are deeply rooted in Central Asia. Fragile internal politics, infighting between different ethnic groups, borders with Afghanistan, and extremist ideology are rampant around the world, leading Uzbekistan to move forward with a sword hanging over its head. In spite of this, the administrative clock and security challenges faced by the government are commendable.
As mentioned above, President Karimov passed away prematurely in 2016. And then the then Prime Minister Shaukat Mirziyoyev became President. Under his leadership, Uzbekistan has made remarkable progress over the past two years. They are reforming the administration, the judiciary, the eradication of corruption, finance, education and foreign policy. Improving bilateral relations with neighboring nations is an important aspect of it, including transportation, trade and political visits. Uzbekistan, once at war with other Central Asian countries, today seeks to lead the region through good relations. Efforts are underway through various projects for external connectivity due to the dual terrain. The same partnership is seen in the field of defense, especially in counter-terrorism operations. China, America, Russia, Japan, Turkey,
From the very beginning, Uzbekistan has been important to India. In fact, the entire history of these two countries is a history of political-economic-cultural exchanges. In ancient times, our connection with the outside world came mainly from this region. At that time, Indian traders, Adityas, travelers and religious leaders were playing a pivotal role there. In the Middle Ages, Timur of Samarkand invaded India. Babur, a descendant of the same, born in Andijan, Uzbekistan, defeated the Lodhi dynasty in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and established the Mughal Empire in India. At that time, Central Asian influence fell on India's art, architecture, language, cuisine. Later, during the Soviet era, Indian films became very popular there. The Tashkent Agreement of 1966 and the subsequent death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri are still remembered by every Indian.
In the post-independence period, India has established close ties with Uzbekistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Tashkent in 2015, and President Mirziyoyev's visit to Delhi in 2018 are expanding the relationship. India has made significant contributions to education, health and information technology in Uzbekistan. Indian films, television series, dance, music, food, yoga, e. Are hugely popular in Uzbekistan. In addition, we are now coming together through various connectivity projects such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the recently concluded India-Central Asia Dialogue and the International North-South Transport Corridor. It can be said that this is the next step in the 'strategic partnership' established between the two countries. Having friendly relations with this strategically and geo-politically important country is essential for India.
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