Introduction.

  • The impact of  modernization and westernization on 'Turkestan' came in the form of 19th century Russian imperialism, and more significantly from Marxism-Leninism. The impact of ideologically driven Slavic 'outsiders' on the lives of the indigenous Uzbeks (as well as  other Central Asian peoples) and their social structures was truly 'revolutionary'.
  • Indeed, from 1945 until 1991 the socio-economic development and quality of the life of Central Asians was in many ways superior to that of other Muslim peoples in Asia, Africa, and Europe.
  • However, the economic depression of the post-1970s era, when combined with economic mismanagement and corruption, and population growth in Central Asia led to a fear of socio-political degeneration. Increase in the Muslim population was a cause of 'fear' for some politicians and authors. In response, political decision-makers in Moscow decided to revitalise  their union-wide   socialization programme - via citizenship education.
  • The aim of the government was to construct socially and ideologically homogeneous Soviet citizens; its human capital and natural resources - in fact the the young people - were to revive the economy of the socialist state.