While the European-Atlantic world mercilessly criticizes Uzbekistan, the countries outside the European-Atlantic world tend to afford incommensurable protection towards it. Actually, these two opposite approaches agree on not truly understanding Uzbekistan and on depicting this country in a black-or-white manner based on their strategic or economic interests. Thus, we need to be able to adopt a more positive perspective of Uzbekistan.Having adopted its Constitution 17 years ago on Dec. 8, 1992, the Republic of Uzbekistan set about creating its new state and new nation. But Uzbekistan’s experience as regards Timur, Khanates, Czarist Russia and the Soviet Union should be closely examined in order to understand the statecraft in the country. Moreover, we should also not forget that Uzbekistan is one of the countries that have the oldest statecraft traditions in Asia. The established urban culture in the country -- Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Hive, Andijon, Hokand -- should be acknowledged as well. If the past of this country can be absorbed, one can better understand Uzbekistan’s smooth transition from the Soviet era’s closed regime and planned economic system to post-independence era’s democratic secular market economy governed by rule of law by preserving social peace and social welfare benefits.
Uzbekistan treats more than 130 officially recognized cultural and ethnic identities as the country’s assets. Stability and peace among the country’s ethnic groups are enshrined in the Constitution. One hundred forty-five national cultural centers and more than 2,000 religious institutions from 16 different religions operate in the country. Uzbek citizens can receive education in their mother tongues as provided under Article 4 of the Constitution. Thus, while the official language is Uzbek, the courses in primary and secondary schools in the localities where certain ethnicities dominantly live may be also given in the Tajik, Kyrgyz, Kazakh, Karakalpak, Turkmen and Russian languages. The Republic of Karakalpakstan is an autonomous entity inside Uzbekistan and has its own laws that are in harmony with those of Uzbekistan. It also has its own Parliament and government.
Uzbekistan also pays special attention to a major issue of the 21st century: environment. In this context, the seats of the legislative assembly of Oly Majlis were increased starting with the Dec. 24 elections, and 15 seats are directly allocated to the Uzbekistan Environment (Ecology) Movement, thus, a political power that unites a multitude of environmentalist movements and organizations in Uzbekistan. The Uzbekistan Environment Movement held a party congress to conduct elections of its 15 deputies from among its 750 delegates.
In conclusion, it is true that Uzbekistan does not have a Western-type democracy. But this does not mean that Uzbekistan does not have a democratic culture and state structure. Looking at Uzbekistan from a different angle will enable us to see its tolerant approaches to diverse ethnicities and religions and positive moves to tackle environmental issues and its enjoyment of democratic richness.
