The Kaleidoscope of Language, Ethnicity, and Identity in Uzbekistan

Abstract

The historical and political situation of Uzbekistan created a unique context where language and ethnicity do not completely overlap for all groups. The study focused on three groups of Uzbeks: Uzbek Uzbek speakers, Russian Russian speakers, and Uzbek Russian speakers. We explored how national, ethnic, ethnolinguistic, and religious identities are associated with interethnic friendship and romantic relationships in these three groups. Identities that are more inclusive (national and ethnolinguistic) were associated with more positive interethnic attitudes and practices, while the opposite was found for ethnic identity. The national, ethnic, ethnolinguistic, and religious identities were strongest for Uzbek-speaking Uzbeks and weakest for the Russian-speaking Russians. Our study demonstrated the relevance of a profound knowledge of the local history and context to understand the role of the various social identities for the groups in Uzbekistan.