ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes the impact of some aspects of traditionalism on the political life of Uzbekistan, the most populous state in Central Asia. The creation of the modern Uzbek people was a complex development. Until the 19th century the territory of Central Asia was divided between the khanates of Bukhara, Kokand and Khiva which were ruled by Uzbek dynasties. Today in Uzbekistan the mahalla is still an efficiently working system of regional government. Since its creation, power in the republic of Uzbekistan has been held by three regional elite groupings: those of Fergana, Samarkand and Tashkent. The most important condition for the successful functioning of a clan is the personal calibre of its leader. In all probability, there occurred many such crises in the course of Rashidov’s rule that were solved by agreements and mutual concessions.
