Plan: The growing importance of English in Uzbekistan

materials to teach the language.
Western democracies should continue to support English language development in Uzbekistan, not only because of the desire of young students, but also because it is an opportunity to advance Western ideas into a society influenced heavily by Russia and China. By offering more English courses, the ability to see real change and greater appreciation for the West and its ideals will be achieved.
Foreign languages have a natural “soft power” element to them, and former president Islam Karimov tried to mitigate this issue. Under his rule, Uzbekistan remained isolated from foreign powers trying to influence domestic policies and relations. English language learning centers were sparse in the capital and non-existent in the regions.
However, Russia was always in the background, as it considered the Central Asian states still within its sphere of influence.
As a result, Russian schools and Russian-language centers were present throughout the country. In the early 2000s, as the United States began to play a more significant role in the region due to the war in Afghanistan, more Uzbeks began to learn English. Although, in 2005, the relationship between the U.S. and Uzbekistan reached a low point, due to the Uzbek state sanctioned violence in Andijan. During this period, there was a resurgence of bilateral relations between Moscow and Tashkent, and the Russian language grew in importance within the country.
However, when President Karimov died in 2016 and his reformed-minded replacement, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, came to power, the dynamics within the country changed again. President Mirziyoyev has sought to balance between the soft-power politics of Russia, the United States, and even recently, China. As all three of these nations vie for influence in the region, their influence on language, schools, and education policies within Uzbekistan will also continue to grow. With its Belt and Road Initiative, China has also tried to convince young Uzbeks of the importance of the Chinese language. While China does have a few language centers
and a Confucius Institute in Tashkent, in the regions, the Chinese language has not taken hold. A majority of Uzbeks do not have a desire to learn any dialect of the Chinese language, and even in most universities it is not an option.
On the contrary, the United States and Great Britain have had much more luck advancing their interests through the English language. This is evident in the education policy of Uzbekistan. Starting from the lowest levels of school, young Uzbeks are now taught the English language and many universities in the capital teach in the English language or have significant English-language departments. Both nations also have learning centers throughout the country and offer free English discussions at their embassies.
While Russian will almost certainly be the lingua franca in the business sphere for years to come, the United States and European nations can significantly impact education and democratic reforms through their English-language “soft power.” As of now, the English language is seemingly winning in this struggle for power, especially as the younger generations view the English language as a way to advance their own goals and futures. Although, as demonstrated in the past, things are quick to change in Uzbekistan, so only time will be able to tell which language the Uzbek people will use in their daily lives, businesses, and future endeavors.