After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the five "Stan" countries that emerged, apart from Kazakhstan, have relatively less presence.
Among these four countries, apart from Turkmenistan, the others face internal issues and relatively chaotic social conditions.
In these countries, Uzbekistan, though not the most chaotic, presents a uniquely complex situation worth noting.
Uzbekistan had a civilization dating back millennia, but in modern times, it spent much of its history under the rule of various empires, with a relatively short period of independence.
The Fergana Valley is the heartland of Uzbekistan, once part of the Bukhara Khanate, which eventually became the Khanate of Kokand due to its geographical isolation.
In the 19th century, the Russian Empire invaded Central Asia, making Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand protectorates.
Due to Kokand's rebellion against Russian rule, it was eventually abolished, and Uzbekistan became a direct territory of the Russian Empire, establishing the Turkestan Governor-Generalship.
During this period, there was significant development in agriculture and food processing.
During the Soviet era, there was widespread literacy campaigns in Uzbekistan, causing a dramatic shift away from traditional Islamic lifestyles and reducing the number of extreme Muslims in the region.
During World War II, the Soviet Union relocated substantial industry to Uzbekistan, especially in Tashkent.
By 2022, Uzbekistan's population had reached 35.64 million, with an increase of at least 10 million over the past two decades, roughly equivalent to the population of Tajikistan.
Despite its large population, Uzbekistan has abundant water resources and arable land, making it relatively manageable to sustain its population.
10% of its land area is designated for agriculture, suitable for growing wheat and cotton.
Despite a developed agriculture sector, Uzbekistan's economic structure is narrow, relying primarily on grain production, mining, and livestock, with weak heavy and light industries.
Most daily necessities are imported, with a 62% import dependence rate contributing to a high poverty rate of 62%.
Additionally, the unemployment rate is 13.2%, infant mortality is 11.6%, and child mortality under five years old is 21.4%.
The population growth pressure has led the government to implement mandatory sterilization measures.
Islamic teachings encouraging large families exacerbate population issues, forcing Uzbekistan to rely on imported food and be vulnerable to global food market fluctuations.
Uzbekistan's criminal landscape is dominated by two main groups: Islamic extremist terrorist organizations and a large mafia network.
Compared to Middle Eastern countries, Uzbekistan has a smaller scale of terrorist organizations but faces serious mafia issues.
During the Soviet era, Uzbekistan was a major base for the mafia and gangs.
The mafia converted illicit earnings into legal businesses, even infiltrating government ranks and colluding with corrupt officials, contributing significantly to political corruption in Uzbekistan.
The Uzbekistani mafia has close ties with Russian criminal networks, jointly constructing a "criminal Silk Road".
The mafia buys drugs from Afghan warlords and terrorists, sells them to Russian mobsters, and then distributes them globally through European networks.
Regarding drug trafficking, the Uzbekistani mafia collaborates with Afghan terrorist organizations, but it counters terrorism if it tries to infiltrate Uzbekistan.
The mafia is part of Uzbekistan's existing national framework, protecting vested interests and resisting any forces that might change the status quo.
The Uzbekistani government has consistently failed to completely eradicate the mafia because, to some extent, the mafia serves as a helper to the government, posing a smaller threat to the regime compared to terrorism.
However, for ordinary citizens, life in such an environment is difficult.
Uzbekistan's complex situation is compounded by historical legacy issues and challenges faced during modernization.
Addressing social problems while developing the economy is a crucial issue Uzbekistan needs to tackle in the future.
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