Republicanism on the Territory of Modern Uzbekistan

Abstract

The article discusses the forms of republicanism that existed in the territory of Uzbekistan in different historical times and eras. The author, based on the research of historians, orientalists and memoirs of travelers, believes that the first republic emerged in the territory of Uzbekistan in the 14th century in Samarkand. The founders of the first republic were Sarbadars. The second republic — Tashkent “aristocratic” land-holding (18th century) — was founded by Yunus Khoja after a long internecine war. The Tashkent “aristocratic” republic did not last long: about 25 years. The third republic (Turkestan autonomy) was brought into being in 1917 by “bourgeois” representatives of the local elite. Turkestan autonomy lasted 72 days and was destroyed by the Bolsheviks. The fourth republic was the Uzbek SSR (1917–1991). The Uzbek SSR was considered a socialist republic. Its essence was manifested in the union of workers, intelligentsia and farmers. The fifth republic is a democratic post-Soviet Uzbekistan. The author, on the basis of the Soviet historiography, shows that during the 20th century, intellectuals tried to find forms of republicanism in the history of Uzbekistan. In the Soviet historiography of the 1940s, attempts were made to invent “republican” traditions in Soviet Central Asia. According to the author, these attempts continue to this day. The author believes that the political science of Uzbekistan does not study the problem of republicanism in Central Asia.