Uzbekistan Again Recognised as “Failed State”
Uzbekistan Again Recognised as “Failed State”
Uzbekistan’s high position in a new list of so-called failed states can be attributed to a lack of democracy and the slow pace of economic development, say local observers.
In late July, the influential American magazine Foreign Policy, and the research centre The Fund for Peace published their annual rating of failed states for 2008.
Uzbekistan – which is still considered the most unstable of Central Asian countries – has improved its position a little from last year, dropping four places from 22nd to 26th on the list.
Its regional neighbours Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come in at 38th and 39th place, respectively.
The term failed state denotes a lack of political and economic stability, high conflict potential and a state’s inability to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Most observers agree with Uzbekistan’s characterisation as a failed state.
A human rights activist from Andijan said mass migration, caused by the growth in unemployment and the deterioration of the economic situation, has gathered pace.
According to Uzbek official media reports, about 5.5 million Uzbek citizens are now working abroad.
Migration growth is “caused by the impossibility of finding decent work in Uzbekistan, [as well as] the pressure to bribe officials”, explained the activist.
According to a practicing lawyer from Andijan, unfavourable human rights conditions, and continuing pressure on dissidents, civil society activists and journalists illustrate the lack of democracy and the Uzbek authority’s rejection of international laws.
Political prisoners and human rights activists continue to languish in Uzbek jails.
Tashpulat Yuldashev, an Uzbek political analyst in exile, said Uzbekistan’s rating as a failed state was due to an “over-centralised” system of management, with power concentrated in the hands of president.
He also said that “total corruption” enveloped all power structures in the country, “Every position can be openly bought and sold. One must pay state officials for any service.”
Oleg Borisov, an independent researcher on Central Asia, pointed out the country’s “uneven” economic development where, according to his estimates, five per cent of the population or the ruling elite owns 95 per cent of the resources.
“It takes only a visit to the regions of the country to realise the scale of impoverishment of the population and the economic crisis in Uzbekistan,” said Borisov.
(NBCA is an IWPR-funded project to create a multilingual news analysis and comment service for Central Asia, drawing on the expertise of a broad range of political observers across the region. The project ran from August 2006 to September 2007, covering all five regional states. With new funding, the service is resuming, covering only Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan for the moment.)
In late July, the influential American magazine Foreign Policy, and the research centre The Fund for Peace published their annual rating of failed states for 2008.
Uzbekistan – which is still considered the most unstable of Central Asian countries – has improved its position a little from last year, dropping four places from 22nd to 26th on the list.
Its regional neighbours Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan come in at 38th and 39th place, respectively.
The term failed state denotes a lack of political and economic stability, high conflict potential and a state’s inability to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Most observers agree with Uzbekistan’s characterisation as a failed state.
A human rights activist from Andijan said mass migration, caused by the growth in unemployment and the deterioration of the economic situation, has gathered pace.
According to Uzbek official media reports, about 5.5 million Uzbek citizens are now working abroad.
Migration growth is “caused by the impossibility of finding decent work in Uzbekistan, [as well as] the pressure to bribe officials”, explained the activist.
According to a practicing lawyer from Andijan, unfavourable human rights conditions, and continuing pressure on dissidents, civil society activists and journalists illustrate the lack of democracy and the Uzbek authority’s rejection of international laws.
Political prisoners and human rights activists continue to languish in Uzbek jails.
Tashpulat Yuldashev, an Uzbek political analyst in exile, said Uzbekistan’s rating as a failed state was due to an “over-centralised” system of management, with power concentrated in the hands of president.
He also said that “total corruption” enveloped all power structures in the country, “Every position can be openly bought and sold. One must pay state officials for any service.”
Oleg Borisov, an independent researcher on Central Asia, pointed out the country’s “uneven” economic development where, according to his estimates, five per cent of the population or the ruling elite owns 95 per cent of the resources.
“It takes only a visit to the regions of the country to realise the scale of impoverishment of the population and the economic crisis in Uzbekistan,” said Borisov.
(NBCA is an IWPR-funded project to create a multilingual news analysis and comment service for Central Asia, drawing on the expertise of a broad range of political observers across the region. The project ran from August 2006 to September 2007, covering all five regional states. With new funding, the service is resuming, covering only Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan for the moment.)
