Pages: 103-107
Published: 30.04.2017
Abstract: At the present article a brief outlook is given on the role and importance of such a traditional social institute for Uzbekistan as self-governing bodies or so-called “makhallas” while undertaking by Uzbekistan complex transitional reforms from “the strong state to the strong civil society”. It is argued that in Uzbekistan traditionalism goes in a line with modernity which can fully be noted in the presence of makhallas being a bridge between the state and citizens, conductor of democratic values within the society, generator of the so-called “social capital”, one of the drivers of social partnership and sources of emergence and further development of middle class. Alongside with this, there are some paragraphs with an analysis of other communities such as neighborhood associations in Japan and neighboring communities in Europe which have some similarity to Uzbek makhallas and whose experience could be implemented while improving makhallas’ activities. Our general approach to the topic consists not only in studying common features of the makhallas but in considering these institutes as a crucial one in forming and development of the civil society in Uzbekistan.
Key words: Uzbekistan, civil society, modernization, Uzbek model, citizens’ local authorities, self-governing bodies, makhallas, social capital, social partnership, third sector, non-governmental organizations, neighborhood associations, neighboring communities.
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