This thesis examines the main domestic security issues of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and the impact of their securitization processes on the domestic and regional security policies of these countries in the post-Soviet era. Two outstanding issues that have been securitized in these countries, separatism and ethnic conflict for Kazakhstan and radical Islam for Uzbekistan, are scrutinized in detail with a comparative analysis. This thesis argues that Kazakh and Uzbek leaders, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Islam Karimov, as the main securitizing actors in their countries have securitized the above-mentioned issues for certain political objectives in the chaotic order of the post-Cold War era. However, these securitization processes for both of these countries have become an obstacle to find permanent solutions to their domestic security problems and develop more effective security policies at the regional level. Kazakh and Uzbek leaders should renounce manipulating these problems and produce more comprehensive policies by paying equal attention to all other problems of their countries. In addition, Astana and Tashkent should try to ensure regional security rather than overemphasizing domestic one(s) if the aim is to benefit from an effective regional integration on Central Asian security. Contrary to the most of existing studies on the subject, the thesis argues that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are accepted as the active players that could contribute to the solution of their own security problems to a great extent, rather than being passive subjects of the &ldquo / New Great Game&rdquo / played among major actors.

1991年蘇聯解體後，位於中亞地區的蘇聯加盟共和國，出現了五個新興國家—吉爾吉斯斯坦、烏茲別克、塔吉克斯坦、土庫曼斯坦和哈薩克斯坦。自獨立以來，此中亞五國致力成為政治、經濟完全獨立的民族國家，其間歷經一番艱辛的奮鬥，且成就了一些可見的成效，但因為地理、文化、經濟等錯綜複雜的因素，使得中亞五國至今仍有許多尚待解決的問題，其中「民族議題」就是一個難以迴避的問題。 中亞五國地處東、西方文化交界的匯集點，歷史上，東方與西方文化的接觸；中國、印度、波斯、羅馬、希臘等國的勢力；北游牧、南農耕的經濟型態都在這裡交匯著。不同的文化、不同的生活形態、不同的宗教傳播，構成了此地政治狀況的複雜原因，由於中亞民族的歷史進程，便是這數千年來川流不息的民族遷徙、五彩斑斕的民族交融，以及金戈鐵馬的民族衝突背景中發生，也因此埋下了此地動盪的因素。 中亞位於歐亞大陸腹地，在漫長的歷史長河中，以其聞名遐邇的古代絲綢之路文化而享譽世界。在這片多元文化並存的沃土上，世居著眾多來自不同地區、種族的民族。長期以來，他們世代繁衍生息，共同開發著這片熱土。經過無數次血與火的洗禮，最終形成了以哈薩克族、烏茲別克族、吉爾吉斯族、塔吉克族、土庫曼族等為主體的不同民族的穩定共同體。 西元8世紀以後，中亞發生了突厥文化及伊斯蘭文化的接觸而進一步產生了文化整合。一直到19世紀中期，若干汗國以突厥伊斯蘭文化的集合因素下控制整個中亞地區；歷史上，汗國的建立是以對蘇丹忠心及尊重伊斯蘭教之各種規範為基礎組成的，而不是民族情感。這與後來進入中亞的蘇聯勢力所採取的以民族原理作為劃分和定國界的依據方式，有很大的差異。 19世紀50至70年代，俄羅斯帝國政府相繼以武力征服了各汗國，致使哈薩克、烏茲別克、吉爾吉斯、塔吉克、土庫曼、卡拉卡爾派克等民族陷入殖民統治。此後，俄羅斯逐漸入主中亞，中亞社會的歷史發展進程中就多了一種俄羅斯文化及其引導的社會力量因素。直至1991年蘇聯解體前，這種俄羅斯文化和社會力量因素一直在不斷地加強和深化。 俄羅斯帝國兼併以後，中亞國家還歷經了加盟蘇聯及蘇聯解體兩個不同的階段，產生了不同於以往的衝突模式。尤其在莫斯科主導力量消退後的中亞五國，其民族衝突與宗教原教旨主義威脅更為嚴重；而該地區藴藏豐富的石油天然氣，更吸引各方勢力的介入，使得在原本內部矛盾問題外，也潛在國際衝突的危機。 莫斯科勢力消退後，中亞五國本身的力量尚未足夠強大，整個地區形成權力空窗期，因此「美」、「中」等國極欲將其勢力注入中亞地區，使得原本在蘇聯時代的「南部屏障」和「戰略緩衝帶」，隨著裏海大陸棚發現大量的天然氣和石油，除了戰略上的價值以外，也產生了極大的經濟價值，因此導致外力的介入。 蘇聯解體後，其加盟共和國的經濟、政治紛紛擾擾，其蘇聯境內各地爆發了民族衝突，使得西方學者驚訝地提出民族主義與原教旨主義的復活看法。 中亞局勢未來的演變，對鄰近區域乃至國際局勢，都將帶來重大的影響；就中共而言，中亞與新疆維吾爾自治區有著3000多公里的共同邊界，還有許多人口眾多、宗教信仰相同的跨界民族，因此中亞地區成為影響中國西部疆域穩定的直接因素。再者，中共一直認為新疆為容易受外國反華勢力與「雙泛主義」─泛突厥主義、泛伊斯蘭主義—所影響的地區，在中亞五國獨立後，當地的維吾爾族分離主義份子，積極運用各種方式進行新疆獨立運動。 中亞五國的民族主義表現出何種特色？這些特色的起源來自何處？中亞在未來是否會如南斯拉夫一樣產生族群衝突？因此筆者試圖，從歷史與現實的結合上，論述中亞五國的民族構成、民族問題的主要表現形式、內容及成因，同時對中亞五國所產生的民族問題作討論和研究；並分析獨立後中亞國家民族理論的轉變和民族政策的調整。 中亞地區有五個國家，各有其獨立的發展歷史，但是烏茲別克民族的形成歷史和其他中亞民族與國家的出現息息相關，因此筆者選擇烏茲別克為案例進行分析。

This dissertation examines the resilience mechanisms of the newly emerging livelihood activities of peasants, farmers, and traders in rural areas in post-Soviet Uzbekistan. Women’s coping, preserving, and accumulating resilience demonstrate their capabilities for transforming and mobilizing assets to develop livelihood activities and expand them through social networks with the markets and state. The livelihood analysis is complemented by the examination of indigenous saving networks such as gap, and savings networks that are local and emerged during Soviet times such as chernaya kassa. These savings networks serve as a livelihood resilience mechanism for social and economic empowerment in the Tashkent region. These networks represent a collective movement and action against economic dependency of women on men and state micro-loan bank system to which women at the grassroots level do not resort to. These social and economic networks that do not require external donor interventions and function outside the mainstream economic assessment have been able to empower women for social justice, redistribution of resources, knowledge, voice, and conflict resolution in ways that are vital for peace and community development. Using in-depth interviews and narrative methodology, this study examines women’s indigenous conflict resolution practices used in rural communities. It examines such ceremonies as mavlud, ihson, Bibi Seshanba (Lady Tuesday), and Mushkul Kushod (Solver of Difficulties); healing practices; and grassroots peacebuilding methods. This research emphasizes how the conflict resolution practices of women are woven into their everyday life, and function autonomously from the hierarchical elite-driven Women’s Committees and state court systems established in Soviet times. Within the ethnographies of conflict at micro and macro levels, many local healers and otins (religious teachers) understand the structural roots of inequalities, which decrease women’s access to resources and consequently their fair distribution and women’s choices. These religious leaders use their discursive knowledge, based on Islam, Sufism, shamanism, and animism to challenge and transform women’s subordination, abuse, limited property rights, and other practices that impinge on women’s needs and rights. These female religious leaders, through different ceremonial practices, create space for raising the critical consciousness of women and transform the social order for maintaining organic peace in the communities.

This dissertation examines the resilience mechanisms of the newly emerging livelihood activities of peasants, farmers, and traders in rural areas in post-Soviet Uzbekistan. Women’s coping, preserving, and accumulating resilience demonstrate their capabilities for transforming and mobilizing assets to develop livelihood activities and expand them through social networks with the markets and state. The livelihood analysis is complemented by the examination of indigenous saving networks such as gap, and savings networks that are local and emerged during Soviet times such as chernaya kassa. These savings networks serve as a livelihood resilience mechanism for social and economic empowerment in the Tashkent region. These networks represent a collective movement and action against economic dependency of women on men and state micro-loan bank system to which women at the grassroots level do not resort to. These social and economic networks that do not require external donor interventions and function outside the mainstream economic assessment have been able to empower women for social justice, redistribution of resources, knowledge, voice, and conflict resolution in ways that are vital for peace and community development. Using in-depth interviews and narrative methodology, this study examines women’s indigenous conflict resolution practices used in rural communities. It examines such ceremonies as mavlud, ihson, Bibi Seshanba (Lady Tuesday), and Mushkul Kushod (Solver of Difficulties); healing practices; and grassroots peacebuilding methods. This research emphasizes how the conflict resolution practices of women are woven into their everyday life, and function autonomously from the hierarchical elite-driven Women’s Committees and state court systems established in Soviet times. Within the ethnographies of conflict at micro and macro levels, many local healers and otins (religious teachers) understand the structural roots of inequalities, which decrease women’s access to resources and consequently their fair distribution and women’s choices. These religious leaders use their discursive knowledge, based on Islam, Sufism, shamanism, and animism to challenge and transform women’s subordination, abuse, limited property rights, and other practices that impinge on women’s needs and rights. These female religious leaders, through different ceremonial practices, create space for raising the critical consciousness of women and transform the social order for maintaining organic peace in the communities.

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, there has been much concern among observers and analysts around the world over what role Islam is to play in the political, economic and social spheres of life in newly independent Central Asian states. Traditionally, Islam is the dominant faith, but had been strongly influenced by the Soviet atheist ideology during the last seven decades before Central Asia became independent in 1991. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, some observers in the West depicted Central Asia as an extension of the Middle East, invoking fears that Islamic fundamentalism was to pose a serious threat to the stability in the region of Central Asia. In this thesis I analyzed the dynamism of Islamic revival in Central Asia&rsquo / s two post-Soviet states of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan through the prism of the imported phenomenon of &lsquo / Islamic fundamentalism&rsquo / . The thesis demonstrates that Islam in Central Asia is a natural process determined primarily by internal socio-economic and political conditions and not influenced by outside forces. In order to support this argument, I approached the problem by analyzing both external factors and internal conditions. The concluding argument is that even if Islam is to be radicalized it will be because of internal factors, such as authoritarianism, violation of human rights and repression of moderate manifestations of Islam from within, rather than because of the influence of Islamic fundamentalist forces from abroad.

The thesis analyzes the conditions that gave rise to Hizb ut-Tahrir, a secretive international radical islamic movement, in post Soviet Uzbekistan. For this purpose, political, economic and socio-cultural conditions and the general characteristics of Hizb ut-Tahrir is examined by the help of historical background and content analysis. It is argued that the emergence of Hizb ut-Tahrir in post Soviet Uzbekistan as a result of interaction of political, economic and socio-cultural conditions in this country.

Thesis (M.S.)--Naval Postgraduate School, 2002. / Cover title. "June 2002." AD-A406 050. Includes bibliographical references (p. 81-85). Also available via the World Wide Web.

L'objectif principal de cette thèse est la reconstruction de l'évolution tectonique et stratigraphique de la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria et du nord-ouest du bassin Afghan-Tadjik dans le sud-ouest de l'Ouzbékistan (régions de Boukhara-Khiva et SW Ghissar).Nous avons utilisé des données géologiques-géophysiques pour construire 8 coupes géologiques-géophysiques. Deux de ces coupes sont parallèles à la région de Boukhara-Khiva, les six autres la recoupent du nord au sud. Les caractères principaux des surfaces pré-Mésozoïque et Mésozoiques ont été observés ainsi que les failles principales, hauts et dépressions.Une autre partie de la thèse est consacrée à l'analyse de la subsidence, réalisée à partir de 18 puits choisis dans la région. La comparaison des taux de subsidence montre une subsidence tectonique active de la fin du Jurassique inférieur au Jurassique moyen et des événements mineurs au cours du Crétacé inférieur et du Turonien.Une analyse de tectonique cassante, comprenant des travaux de terrain, a été menée dans la chaîne du SW Ghissar. Des populations de failles ont été mesurées dans les carbonates du Jurassique moyen-supérieur. Les résultats indiquent que les failles normales sont associées à une extension de direction NE qui s'est développée dans la marge nord du bassin de l'Amou-Daria au cours du Jurassique moyen supérieur.Nos résultats montrent que l'évolution du bassin de l'Amou-Daria est liée au développement de la marge nord de l'océan néo-téthysien au Mésozoïque. La subduction vers le nord de la Néo-Téthys sous l'Eurasie durant le Jurassique a induit un régime extensif dans la plaque Touran chevauchante et l'ouverture du bassin de l'Amou-Daria. / The main aim of this thesis is reconstructing the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin and northwestern part of the Afghan-Tajik basin in southwestern Uzbekistan (Bukhara-Khiva and Southwestern Gissar regions). We have used a complex of geological-geophysical data for the construction of 8 geological-geophysical sections. Two lines are parallel to the Bukhara-Khiva region, while other six cross it from the north to the south. The principal features of the pre-Mesozoic and Mesozoic surfaces were observed. The main faults, highs and lows were also determined.Another part of the study is the tectonic subsidence analysis, performed through 18 wells, chosen for the area. The comparison of the tectonic subsidence rates shows an active tectonic subsidence during the late Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic, and minor events during the Early Cretaceous and the Turonian.The fault tectonic analysis, including fieldworks, has been performed in the Southwestern Gissar Mountains. We mainly analysed the faults population in the Middle-Late Jurassic carbonates. The results indicate that normal faulting developed during the Middle-Late Jurassic associated with the NE-trending extension that developed in the northern margin of the Amu-Darya basin.All of the results show that the Amu-Darya basin evolution is strongly connected to the Mesozoic development of the northward subduction of the Tethys Oceanic domain beneath the Central Asia margin. During the Jurassic, the northward subduction of the Neo-Tethys beneath Eurasia generated extensional stress fields in the overriding Turan platform which originated the Amu-Darya basin.

The study works with the paradigm of energy security of supply in the context of three Central Asian republics; Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It focus on the relations related to gas and oil. The subjects are analyzed from the point of their own energy strategy, institutions' efficiency as well as position in the energy market. The analysis deals with the main external actors; Russia, China and European Union. A great stress is laid on the evolution in gas and oil trading and the energy infrastructure in the region. Problems of relation between energy, security and politics are included. I try to cover the main trends in the gas and oil market and put them in the context of Central Asia. My conclusions limit the popular scheme of russian dominance and stress the growing cooperation with China, in contrast to EU. However, the growing interconnection of the euroasian gas market is also very important.

The aim of this Master thesis is to explore the impact of design parameters on material flow efficiency in terms of space and time (labor or person-hours) utilization. The factory material flow design process is an essential part of any manufacturing. The challenge for this project was to expose the components for the assembly operator within the space designated for materials at the workstation, meanwhile minimizing non-value-adding work and creating good ergonomics so that operators can achieve high workstation performance. In this study a new General Motors Powertrain Uzbekistan (GMPT-UZ) Greenfield manufacturing plant was considered as a case study for the design of internal material flow and implementation of lean principles. The research work was based on action research strategy where the researcher starts with a particular problem that he wants to solve, or understand better, usually within the environment where he is working. The findings underline the importance of each design parameter in the application of lean principles. The main conclusion to be drawn from this study is that the material flow design process can still require a continuous improvement based on production targets and the best practices from other companies.