The effectiveness of counterterrorist policies in Uzbekistan

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the effectiveness of Uzbekistans counterterrorist policies during the period of 19902012. It overviews the development of radical Islamism in Uzbekistan and evaluates the remaining terrorist threats. The effectiveness of Uzbekistans counterterrorist policies is mainly analyzed by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of the both sides the radical Islamist, especially terrorist, organizations and the Uzbek government. The Uzbek public supportas the main factor determining the effectiveness of the counterterrorist policies in the countryis presented within the originally constructed framework of many factors that cover not only the governments encounter with the radical Islamists and terrorists but also a wider historic, social, and economic situation in Uzbekistan. In addition, Uzbekistans international counterterrorist cooperation is considered as an important factor for the sustenance of the highly repressive regime of President Islam Karimov. Although this thesis is focused on terrorism in just one country, the short overview of Islamism in the other Central Asian implies the case-specific nature of terrorism in general. This thesis demonstrates that the repressive and indiscriminate counterterrorism policies may remain effective in Uzbekistan even in the long-term due to the unique historic, economic, and social situation in the country and the specific geopolitical situation.