Security or human rights? US foreign policy dilemma in Uzbekistan

Abstract

United States foreign policy has continually struggled to strike a balance between America’s immediate strategic interests and its concern for human rights and democracy – a dilemma exacerbated by the Bush Administration’s war on terror. Even though Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan greatly enhanced Uzbekistan’s strategic importance, Washington had nurtured ties with the autocratic regime in this Central Asian republic since the mid 1990s. This study examines the US-Uzbek relationship from 1995–2005, highlighting the processes by which decision makers in Washington attempted to balance diverging policy goals in Uzbekistan. How US policymakers resolved this dilemma and the consequences resulting from their decisions are addressed in detail, along with its broader implications for US policy.