Hello - the following site covers the recent research work undertaken at SOAS, London, on the theme of social cohesion and citizenship education.

Title of current research work:

Soviet citizenship education policy in Uzbekistan (1980-89) and the need to socialize Muslim youths to become 'loyal' citizens.

Example questions that transcend both the Soviet Uzbekistan and England:

1. Can citizenship education resolve issues surrounding ethnic minority social integration?

2. Why are political elites suspicious of unplanned population change?

3. Is there an historical model that can show that ethnic integration is possible in a modern setting?

This research study is conducted as part of a MPhil degree research project  - and is undertaken at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

The analysis explores the relationship between unplanned population growth, political elite concerns on this matter, youth social issues specific to these two countries, social integration, and citizenship education policy.

A selection of works by Western - mainly women - authors  will be used to highlight a number of views. These Western authors had a refreshingly objective stance on Central Asian communities of the 1980s and consider that multiculturalism can work. They argue that such young citizens did in fact integrate into Soviet society - and lobbied within the system. Moreover, at no point did the young Central Asians pose a serious threat to the sustainabilty of the existing social system.

We also consider Western authors who argue that youth integration in both socialist Uzbekistan (1980-1989) and liberal-democratic England (1990-1999) was problematic; due to - the ethnic (Muslim) background of the young citizens; failing social mobility; and exclusion from politics. This group of Western authors see the chosen lifestyle of young Central Asian men and women and their parents as a potential threat to the Soviet system. It will be shown that such authors focused their energies on the likelihood of a 'nationalist-Islamic' uprising in Central Asia.

Some key topics of debate:

•  The policies of Brezhnev and Gorbachev are reviewed and any differences between them discussed. 
• A comparison will be made with the condition of Muslim youth in England 1990-1999 - and the aims of the British national government to assimilate / integrate them into the capitalist-democratic social system.

If you have any ideas you wish to contribute to this work please forward them to me - this is a 'democratic website', so feel free to express your creativity.