Sociologist’s Journey Through The Socio-Economic History of Uzbekistan
January 31, 2024
This essay is experimental in its genre. It represents an attempt to articulate the author’s perspective on a series of socio-economic development issues in Uzbekistan. This is done by reconstructing the key stages of the author’s evolving views on the world and these problems. In this sense, the article combines the genres of autobiographical essays with an account of the key stages in the country’s socio-economic history. The author incorporates materials from some of his past publications (though not all), while also offering additional analysis of selected topics.
In his reminiscences, the author covers a period spanning roughly half a century, starting from his initial student experiences when the collapse of the Soviet Union was still far off, and the era of Perestroika had not yet arrived. Subsequently, attention shifted to the post-Soviet period. In terms of thematic coverage, the author offers a panorama of subjects of his interest, as follows:
- Sharp social stratification in the post-Soviet period;
- Emergence of the class of “new poor”;
- Complexity of studying family budgets in Uzbekistan;
- Policy changes in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector;
- The system of forced labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton sector;
- Issues of corruption and repatriation of stolen assets back to the country;
- Finally, lingering institutional barriers to the economic growth of the country and attracting foreign investments.
To read full report, click: https://cenasiaduediligence.uk/sociologists-journey-through-the-socio-economic-history-of-uzbekistan/
Implications for Uzbekistan’s Water Supply of Qosh Tepa Canal Construction in Afghanistan
14 November, 2023
The purpose of this article is to analyse how the construction of the Qosh Tepa canal in Afghanistan, spanning 285 km, will impact the water supply situation in Uzbekistan. Following the completion of this construction in 2027, it is set to acquire a significant share of water resources from the Amu Darya basin. According to the author’s calculations, under the most expected scenario, Uzbekistan will only receive 16.4 km³ per year, a considerable reduction from the current 23 km³ stipulated in the agreement with the countries of post-Soviet Central Asia. This prospect, wherein Uzbekistan’s water intake from the Amu Darya will decrease by 30%, presents a more pessimistic outlook compared to estimates in available publications, which predict a reduction in the country’s share by only 15%. The author scrutinizes the measures taken by the Uzbek government to transition to water-saving irrigation technologies and demonstrates that these efforts are insufficient to avoid the worst-case scenario. Additional steps in this direction are proposed, primarily focusing on the reform of the governance system in the agricultural sector, especially in the cotton industry.
To read full report, click: https://cenasiaduediligence.uk/implications-for-uzbekistans-water-supply-of-qosh-tepa-canal-construction-in-afghanistan/
From Crackdowns to Compromises: Unraveling the Dynamics Between Autocratic Regimes and Organized Crime
December 15, 2023
This essay is prompted by a large-scale operation conducted by Uzbek authorities in late November to early December, resulting in the apprehension of over 200 members of the country’s criminal underworld. The author considers this episode as part of a long-term relationship between the autocratic regime and the criminal world, which has witnessed shifts from coexistence and even close relationships between both parties to state crackdowns on criminal networks, a pattern observable in other countries of Eurasia. The article also poses the question of how authoritarian regimes differ from established democracies in the context of combating organized crime. It is noted that, at least in some authoritarian regimes, the lines between the state and organized crime seem to blur, although such a phenomenon can also be observed in certain parts of the collective West.
To read full report, click: https://cenasiaduediligence.uk/from-crackdowns-to-compromises-unravelling-the-dynamics-between-autocratic-regimes-and-organized-crime/
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