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Email this citationCIAO DATE: 06/04
Uzbekistan's Reform Program: Illusion or Reality?
February 18, 2003
Abstract
Since October 2001, Uzbekistan has been a key ally of the U.S. in the military campaign in Afghanistan. A U.S. base has been established and a far-reaching Agreement on Strategic Partnership was signed in March 2002. Uzbekistan, however, sits uncomfortably in a campaign known as "Enduring Freedom." It is one of the most authoritarian of the post-Soviet states, with a poor record on human rights and an economy that still owes much more to Soviet central planning than the market.
The new relationship with the U.S. seemed to open up the possibility of a wide range of political, and economic reforms. At the beginning of 2002, many suggested that Uzbekistan had a 'window of opportunity' through which to push reforms in a favourable international environment. This report concludes that reforms have largely failed so far and that present international policies are unlikely to persuade the government to change course significantly in 2003.
