ISLAM KARIMOV: THE POLITICAL LEGACY OF THE FOUNDER OF INDEPENDENT UZBEKISTAN AND IT’S REFLECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY’S CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENT
Keywords:
Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan, political legacy, authoritarianism, uzbek model, post-soviet transition, economic policy, forced labour, Andijan massacre, human rights, foreign policy, self-reliance, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reforms, neopatrimonialism, state control, Cotton industry, regional cooperation, Central Asia, governance.Abstract
This article critically evaluates the political legacy of Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan’s inaugural president (1991–2016), and its profound influence on the country’s contemporary development. Through a meticulous analysis of Karimov’s authoritarian governance, economic policies, foreign relations, and human rights record, the study elucidates how his “Uzbek model” of state-led stability shaped Uzbekistan’s post-Soviet trajectory. Drawing on a diverse array of scholarly sources, official documents, and contemporary analyses, the article highlights the dual nature of Karimov’s legacy: a foundation of macroeconomic resilience and national sovereignty juxtaposed against entrenched repression and institutional stagnation. It further explores how his successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, navigates this complex inheritance, balancing reformist ambitions with the enduring structural and cultural constraints of Karimov’s regime. Offering a nuanced perspective, this analysis underscores the tensions between continuity and change in Uzbekistan’s ongoing transformation, positioning Karimov’s legacy as both an enabler and a challenge for the nation’s future.
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