FROM REALPOLITIK TO CONSTRUCTIVISM: UZBEKISTAN’S ROLE IN SHAPING A NEW CENTRAL ASIAN IDENTITY (2016–2030)

Abstract

This essay examines how Uzbekistan’s 2016 leadership transition catalyzed a fundamental shift in its foreign policy, moving from a realist doctrine of defensive self-reliance toward a constructivist strategy of open pragmatism and regional leadership. Drawing on recent scholarship in international relations theory and Central Asian political economy, the essay argues that this transition has not only transformed Uzbekistan’s bilateral relationships with its neighbors but has also contributed to the emergence of a new cooperative identity across Central Asia. The analysis addresses economic diplomacy, water politics, and the counterargument regarding institutional fragility before concluding that the material foundations of regional interdependence make a return to isolationism increasingly unlikely.