Published May 13th, 2006 by Future Atlas
A warning on Uzbekistan
In the Financial Times, the International Crisis Group warns:
Diplomatic pressure may, however, be too late to prevent upheaval. As with other brutal yet brittle regimes facing an increasingly hostile population with less and less to lose, its end is as inevitable as it will be turbulent. But the international community can try to moderate any future breakdown. It is in its interest to do so: a complete collapse of Uzbekistan would put at risk the world’s huge investment in neighbouring Afghanistan, and a failed state in the heart of Asia would be a godsend to drug traffickers and religious extremists.
Others have made similar assessments. Uzbekistan is ranked 22nd in the Failed States Index, barely avoiding the highest danger category.
Corruption is an underlying factor: Transparency International rankings put it near the bottom, at the 137th slot, right next to the Congo.