Uzbekistan’s Transformation from an “Old” to an “Upgraded” Autocracy

Since Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in autumn 2016, Uzbekistan has undoubtedly entered a phase of profound change. Especially for Western observers, many elements of the reform might look like being part of a democratization process: market reform, rational-legal reform, accountability, participation. However, the author argues that these policies do also belong to the very ordinary tool box of “authoritarian upgraders.” The term “authoritarian upgrading” refers to a process of modernization or transformation by which autocratic regimes adapt to globalization. This article analyses the directions, limits and implications of the reform process in Uzbekistan