Lessons 8 · 1 lessons · Sh. Ergashev, B. Xodjayev, J. Abdullayev. World History (1991–2017): textbook for Grade 11 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. “Turon-Iqbol”, Tashkent, 2018
8
The Central Asian states, 1991–2017
Textbook: pp. 38–43
GoalDescribe the political and economic paths of the Central Asian states since independence, and regional cooperation and problems.
New words
civil war · fuqarolar urushithe “Tulip Revolution”, the change of power in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 · «Lola inqilobi»neutrality, a policy of not joining military blocs or wars · betaraflikregional cooperation · mintaqaviy hamkorlik
Explanation
Five states became independent in Central Asia: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan declared independence on 31 August 1991, Tajikistan on 9 September, Turkmenistan on 27 October and Kazakhstan on 16 December. All of them had to move from the Soviet planned economy to a market economy, introduce new currencies and build state institutions; Kazakhstan aimed to develop on oil and gas, Turkmenistan on gas, Kyrgyzstan on gold and hydropower, and Tajikistan on hydropower and aluminium. Tajikistan had a civil war in 1992–1997, which ended with the General Agreement of 1997. Kyrgyzstan had the “Tulip Revolution” in 2005 and a second change of power in 2010; in June 2010 many people, among them ethnic Uzbeks, suffered in Osh and Jalal-Abad. Turkmenistan received the status of permanent neutrality, recognized by the UN in 1995; Kazakhstan saw a transfer of power in 2019 when its first president resigned, and in 2022 its capital was again named Astana. Since 2018 the leaders of the region have met regularly for consultations; water, energy, transport, borders and the situation in Afghanistan remain common concerns.
Worked examples
The Tajik civil war (1992–1997): a struggle for power between regions and political forces grew into armed conflict. With UN mediation the General Agreement was signed on 27 June 1997, opening the way to multi-party politics.
Regional cooperation: in 2018 the first consultative meeting of the Central Asian heads of state was held in Astana, and meetings have continued since. Upstream countries (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) and downstream ones (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan) try to agree on sharing water and energy.
Class activity
Divide into five groups; each takes one Central Asian state and prepares three pieces of information (capital, independence date, main natural resource); then place everything together on the map.
Practice
1
On which dates did the five Central Asian states declare independence?
Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – 31.08.1991; Tajikistan – 9.09.1991; Turkmenistan – 27.10.1991; Kazakhstan – 16.12.1991.
2
When was the civil war in Tajikistan and how did it end?
In 1992–1997; with the General Agreement of June 1997, mediated by the UN.
3
Why did the economic paths of the Central Asian states differ?
Their natural resources differed (oil, gas, gold, water), as did their geography and the pace of reforms; Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan relied on hydrocarbons, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on hydropower and mining.
4
Why are water and energy at the centre of regional cooperation?
Upstream (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan) the rivers are needed for energy, downstream (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan) for irrigation; in the Soviet period this was coordinated from the centre, now the states must agree among themselves.