After Karimov and Nazarbayev: Official Media Discourses on Central Asian Identity in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
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Date
2026
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SDU University
Abstract
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has not developed a unified regional identity, as the young republics primarily focused on building national sovereignty and state-building. Leadership changes in Uzbekistan (2016) and Kazakhstan (2019) marked the end of long-standing rule since 1989, paving the way for a new regional dialogue. The article investigates how the new presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and KassymJomart Tokayev “construct” the image of Central Asia in their official rhetoric. Despite the significant interest in regionalism, the way the presidents of the two countries represent the Central Asian identity in their official rhetoric remains underexplored. The discursive analysis and changes in rhetoric in the speeches of the two leaders from 2016 to 2025 were examined to address this existing gap. The result of the analysis demonstrated that Uzbekistan uses a shared historical memory and promotes cultural unity as the foundation of regional identity. Kazakhstan instead adheres to pragmatic cooperation and promotes itself as a responsible and active regional actor. Since 2022, both countries have increasingly emphasized sovereignty and regional selfdetermination in the context of geopolitical instability. By examining how identity is formed “from above,” this work contributes to understanding the political significance of today’s Central Asia and highlights the role of discourse in shaping regional unity in the post-Soviet space.
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Keywords
Central Asian identity, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, political discourse
Citation
Serikbek K / After Karimov and Nazarbayev: Official Media Discourses on Central Asian Identity in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan / SDU University / SDU Journal of Media Studies 2026/1 (4)