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Uzbekistan
Government and Politics
The movement toward economic reform in Uzbekistan has not been
matched by movement toward democratic reform. The government of
Uzbekistan has instead tightened its grip since independence,
cracking down increasingly on opposition groups, curbing basic
human rights, and making little attempt to develop democratic
political norms and practices. Although the names have changed,
the institutions of government remain similar to those that existed
before the breakup of the Soviet Union. The government has justified
its restraint of personal liberty and freedom of speech by emphasizing
the need for stability and a gradual approach to change during
the transitional period, citing the conflict and chaos in the
other former republics (most convincingly, neighboring Tajikistan).
This approach has found credence among a large share of Uzbekistan's
population, although such a position may not be sustainable in
the long run.
Data as of March 1996
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