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Republic of Uzbekistan
Ozbekiston Respublikasi
A Teachers Guide
Compiled by the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
http://ceres.georgetown.edu
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Facts at a Glance
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History of Uzbekistan
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Additional Resources
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Natural Resources: natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc,
tungsten, molybdenum
Environment - Current Issues: shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations
of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly
exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the
heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing
soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals,
including DDT
Population: 28,929,716 (July 2014 est.); Country comparison to the world: 45
Urbanization: Urban population: 36.2% of total population (2011)
Life Expectancy at Birth:
Ethnic Groups: Uzbek 80%, Russian 5.5%, Tajik 5%, Kazakh 3%, Karakalpak 2.5%, Tatar
1.5%, other 2.5% (1996 est.)
Religions: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni),
Eastern Orthodox 9%, other 3%
Government Type: republic; authoritarian
presidential rule, with little power outside the
executive branch
Independence: 1 September 1991 (from the
Soviet Union)
The Flag of Uzbekistan: Blue is the co lo r
o f the Turkic p e o p le s and o f the sky ,
w hite sig nif ie s p e ace and the striv ing
fo r purity in tho ug hts and d e e d s,
w hile g ree n rep re se nts nature and is
the co lo r of Islam; the re d strip e s are
the v ital f o rce o f all liv ing o rg anisms
that link s g o o d and pure id e as w ith
the e te rnal sky and w ith d e e d s o n
e arth; the cre sce nt rep re se nts Islam
and the 12 star s the mo nths and
co nste llatio ns o f the U zbe k cale ndar.
regional governing councils and 16 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year
terms) and a lower house or Legislative Chamber (150 seats; 135 members elected by popular
vote to serve five-year terms, while 15 spots reserved for the new Ecological Movement of
Uzbekistan)
Judicial Branch: Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the
Supreme Assembly)
Political Parties and Leaders: Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Narimon Umarov];
Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan [Boriy Alixonov, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of
Uzbekistan or LDPU [Sodigion Turdiyev]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly
Communist Party) [Hotamion Ketmonov]
National Anthem: Name: "O'zbekiston Respublikasining Davlat Madhiyasi" (National Anthem
of the Republic of Uzbekistan); Lyrics/music: Abdulla Aripov/Mutal Burhanov; Note: adopted
1992; after the fall of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan kept the music of the anthem from its time as
a Soviet Republic but adopted new lyrics.
Economy - Overview: Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country; 11% of the land is intensely
cultivated, in irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of the population lives in densely populated
rural communities. Export of hydrocarbons,
primarily natural gas, provides a significant
share of foreign exchange earnings. Other
major export earners include gold and
cotton. Despite ongoing efforts to diversify
crops, Uzbekistani agriculture remains
largely centered around cotton, although
production has dropped by 35% since 1991.
Uzbekistan is now the world's fifth largest
cotton exporter and sixth largest producer.
The country is addressing international
criticism for the use of child labor in its
cotton harvest. Following independence in
Uzbekistani Som
September 1991, the government sought to
(http://www.cbu.uz/uz_lat/notes_coins.htm)
prop up its Soviet-style command economy
with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware of the need to improve
the investment climate, the government still sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease,
its control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has
hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted Article
VIII obligations under the IMF, providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict
currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have
also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity. The Central Bank often
delays or restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Uzbekistan's growth has been
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driven primarily by state-led investments and a favorable export environment. In the past
Uzbekistani authorities have accused US and other foreign companies operating in Uzbekistan of
violating Uzbekistani laws and have frozen and even seized their assets. At the same time, the
Uzbekistani Government has actively courted several major US and international corporations,
offering financing and tax advantages. A major US automaker opened a powertrain
manufacturing facility in Tashkent in November 2011, but there have been no sizable US
investments since then. Diminishing foreign investment and difficulties transporting goods
across borders further challenge the economy of Uzbekistan.
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $112.6 billion (2013 est.); Country comparison to the world:
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GDP - Real Growth Rate: 7% (2013 est.); Country comparison to the world: 23
GDP - Per Capita (PPP): $3,800 (2013 est.); Country comparison to the world: 171
GDP - Composition by Sector: Agriculture: 19.1%, Industry: 32.2%; Services: 48.7% (2013
est.)
Labor Force: 16.99 million (2013 est.); Country comparison to the world: 37
Agriculture - Products: Cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock
Industries: Textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold, petroleum, natural
gas, chemicals.
Current Account Balance: $1.801 billion (2013 est.); Country comparison to the world: 43
Exports - Commodities: Energy products, cotton, gold, mineral fertilizers, ferrous and
nonferrous metals, textiles, food products, machinery, automobiles
Exports - Partners: China 21.2%, Kazakhstan 15.9%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 14.7%,
Bangladesh 9.5%, Kyrgyzstan 4% (2012)
Imports - Partners: Russia 20.7%, China 16.6%, South Korea 16.4%, Kazakhstan 12.5%,
Germany 4.6%, Turkey 4.2%, Ukraine 4% (2012)
Debt - External: $8.773 billion (31 December 2013 est.); Country comparison to the world: 103
Exchange Rates: Uzbekistani soum (UZS) per US dollar - 2,082.3 (2013 est.)
Military Service Age and Obligation: 19-26 years of age for compulsory military service; 18
years of age for volunteers; 12-month conscript service obligation; male registration required at
age 16 (2009)
Military expenditures: 1.2% of GDP (2007 est.); Country comparison to the world: 119.
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History of Uzbekistan
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Text taken directly from Library of Congress Website: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/uztoc.html
and http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Uzbekistan.pdf
In 1992 Uzbekistan adopted a new constitution, but the main opposition party, Birlik, was
banned, and a pattern of media suppression began. In 1995 a national referendum extended
Karimovs term of office from 1997 to 2000. A series of violent incidents in eastern Uzbekistan
in 1998 and 1999 intensified government activity
against Islamic extremist groups, other forms of
opposition, and minorities. In 2000 Karimov was
reelected overwhelmingly in an election whose
procedures received international criticism. Later
that year, Uzbekistan began laying mines along the
Tajikistan border, creating a serious new regional
issue and intensifying Uzbekistans image as a
regional hegemon. In the early 2000s, tensions also
developed with neighboring states Kyrgyzstan and
Turkmenistan. Following the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001, Uzbekistan provided logistical
support to the U.S. antiterrorist campaign in
Islam Karimov: Born in Samarkand in 1938,
Islam Karimov studied engineering and
Afghanistan. This move continued a rapprochement
economics. He became the Communist Party's
that began in the late 1990s. However, in 2004 the
First Secretary in Uzbekistan in 1989, and was
United States cut non-humanitarian aid to
then elected president of independent
Uzbekistan, citing recurrent human rights
Uzbekistan in December 1991, in what
violations. In mid-2005 brutal suppression of riots
Human Rights Watch termed a "seriously
marred" poll.
in Andijon brought severe criticism from the United
He extended his term further by a referendum
States and the European Union (EU). Under
in 1995. He was re-elected in January 2000,
pressure from the Karimov regime, the United
and again the international community raised
States vacated its air base at Karshi-Khanabad, and
serious concerns about the poll's fairness.
sanctions by the EU and the United States followed.
The OSCE refused to send observers after
deciding that there was no possibility of a fair
In the same period, a mutual defense treaty
contest. The situation was no better in
substantially enhanced relations between Russia
parliamentary elections in December 2004, in
and Uzbekistan. Tension with Kyrgyzstan increased
which Mr Karimov banned opposition parties
in 2006 when Uzbekistan demanded extradition of
from taking part.
hundreds of refugees who had fled from Andijon
Mr Karimov has been keen to track down
those he views as Muslim extremists, intent on
into Kyrgyzstan after the riots. A series of border
taking over the country. Whatever the real
incidents also inflamed tensions with neighboring
extent of the Islamic threat, Mr Karimov has
Tajikistan. In 2006 Karimov continued arbitrary
used it to crack down on any form of
dismissals and shifts of subordinates in the
opposition. It is estimated that thousands of
government, including one deputy prime minister.
ordinary Muslims are in jail, accused of
plotting against the government. The state also
maintains tight control of the media, and
criticism of the president and his policies is
not allowed. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asiapacific/4554997.stm)
Uzbekistans Culture
Uzbek Cuisine
Text taken from http://www.orexca.com/cuisine.shtml
One particularly distinctive and well-developed
aspect of Uzbek culture is its cuisine. Uzbek
dishes are not hot and fiery, though certainly
flavorful. Some of their principle spices are black
cumin, red and black peppers, barberries,
coriander, and sesame seeds. The more common
herbs are cilantro (fresh coriander), dill, parsley,
celeriac, and basil. Other seasonings include wine
vinegar, liberally applied to salads and marinades,
and fermented milk products. The wide array of
breads, leavened and unleavened, is a staple for
the majority of the population. Flat bread, or
"non", "lepyoshka" is usually baked in tandoor
ovens and served with tea at every meal.
Uzbek plov
Central Asia has a reputation for the richness and delicacy of its fermented dairy products. The
most predominant are katyk, or yogurt made from sour milk, and suzma, strained clotted milk
which are eaten plain, in salads, or added to soups and main dishes.
Plov or Osh, the Uzbek version of "pilaff" ("pilav"), is the flagship of Uzbek cookery. It consists
mainly of fried and boiled meat, onions, carrots and rice; with raisins, barberries, chickpeas, or
fruit added for variation. Uzbek men pride themselves on their ability to prepare the most unique
and sumptuous plov. The oshpaz, or master chef, often cooks plov over an open flame,
sometimes serving up to 1000 people from a Single cauldron on holidays or occasions such as
weddings. It certainly takes years of practice with no room for failure to prepare a dish, at times,
containing up to 100 kilograms of rice.
Tea is revered in the finest of oriental traditions. It is offered first to any guest and there exists a
whole subset of mores surrounding the preparation, offering
and consumption of tea. Green tea is the drink of hospitality
and predominates. Black tea is preferred in Tashkent,
though both teas are seldom taken with milk or sugar. An
entire portion of their food culture is dedicated solely to tea
drinking. Some of these include samsa, bread, halva, and
various fried foods.
Uzbek Music
Text taken from
http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/view/page
.basic/country/content.country/uzbekistan_624
Uzbekistan, with a population of some 27 million
people, is Central Asia's most populous and most
musically diverse country. Classical art song
(maqm) flourished in the great Silk Road cities of
Bukhara and Samarkand. Not far away from Bukhara
and Samarkand, in the hilly steppe lands that range
Uzbeks playin karnay in a wedding
south toward the border of Afghanistan, bardic
ceremony
singers practice an ancient art of epic recitation and
extemporized oral poetry. Women's music and dance traditions are highly developed in the
towns and rural settlements of the Ferghana Valley, in eastern Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, in the capital city of Tashkent, young musicians search for innovative ways to
express Uzbekistan's musical heritage in contemporary musical languages. In recent years,
singers such as Yulduz Usmanova and Sevara Nazarkhan have brought Uzbek music to global
audiences by fusing traditional melodies and vocal timbres with pop rhythms and
instrumentation. Contemporary composers such as Dmitri Yanov-Yanovsky and Artem Kim
have created their own musical fusions by using the sounds and colors of traditional Uzbek
instruments as elements of chamber music compositions.
The rich variety of Uzbek musical instruments reflects the diversity of
musical styles performed on them. Small ensembles of mixed
instruments are at the heart of the classical maqm tradition.
Characteristic instruments in such ensembles include long-necked
fretted lutes (tanbur, dutar, tar, rubab, sato), spike fiddle (ghijak),
side-blown flute (nay), struck zither (chang), frame drum (dayra) and
a small clarinetlike instrument made from reed (qoshnay). Another
typical ensemble consists of long trumpets (karnai), loud oboes
(surnai) and, sometimes, kettledrums (naghora), which are an
obligatory presence at festive and ceremonial occasions. In rural
regions, epic singers accompany themselves on a short fretless lute
(dombra), while amateur musicians may play the Jew's harp (changkobuz) or a simple variety of spike fiddle (kiak).
Dutor a traditional
instrument used in
Iran and Central
Asia
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Literature:
Text taken from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/621057/Uzbekliterature
Uzbek literatures classical period lasted from the 9th to the
second half of the 19th century. During that period numerous
literary works were produced, often under the patronage of
Turkic emperors, kings, sultans, and emirs. Although its
roots stretch as far back as the 9th century, modern Uzbek
literature traces its origins in large part to Chagatai literature,
a body of works written in the Turkic literary language of
Chagatai. The earliest works of Chagatai literature date from
the 14th century but remain easily accessible to readers of
the modern Uzbek language.The tsarist colonial period in the
Uzbek khanates marked a dark, tragic era for indigenous
literature. From the beginning of the military invasion and
occupation Russians tried to make use of literature to further
their interests. Uzbek writers such as Muqm, Furqat, Zavqi,
Dilshad, Anbar Atin, and Nazimakhanum were forced to
praise Russian culture and society in their works.
In the first decades of the 20th century the Jadid reform
movement, gained influence in Uzbekistan and throughout
Central Asia. Jadidists were among those writers who at the
turn of the 20th century helped to introduce plays, novels,
and short stories to the Uzbek people. After the Soviets
crushed the revolts of the Uzbek people and took full control
of Turkistan, they increasingly suppressed native literature,
culture, and education. In spite of these difficulties, Uzbek
literature was able to maintain its spirit. The Soviet Unions
collapse and Uzbekistans independence transformed the
Uzbek literary landscape. The literature written but banned
by the Soviets became available. Most of the best work
published in the postindependence period was in prose.
Toghay Murads lyrical novel Otamdam qolgan dalalar
(1994; Fields Which Remained from My Father) describes
the 19th-century Russian invasion of Central Asia. Tohir
Maliks novel Shaytanat (199296; Devilry) was read by
Uzbeks with great interest, because many saw their local
political leaders (so-called new Uzbeks), whom they
thought to be behaving like criminals, as the heroes of this
novel.
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