I have this great book written by a Japanese thinker, R.G.H. Siu, and he says the following: “Ceremony without ulterior motive is amateur theatre.” Uzbekistan is having presidential elections soon–a year past the deadline. There are six candidates and five political parties. Each of the five political parties is expected to draft a candidate for the Central Election Commission to put on the ballot. The sixth candidate is: you guessed it, he who has already ruled by fiat for the past year. I predict an outcome: the play will be a romance, with the incumbent and the state reunited for another decade, and the villains will be five.
According to ferghana.ru news agency, interviewing a (necessarily) anonymous political scientist:
The way I see it, we have in Uzbekistan all legal and political framework necessary for existence of truly independent political parties. Unfortunately, lack of traditions of a multi-party system and absence of political tolerance and pluralism prevent what political parties we have from becoming truly mass parties.
Yes, there is a Constitution. Yes, there are political parties. In particular, the Berlik and Erk parties have some renown even outside Uzbekistan. But no, there is not democracy–opposition parties have been marginalized and branded with the “extremist” label.
What Extremists? A connotative etymology for us all
Unfortunately, the word “extremist” had developed connotations in the world at large which cut off conversations in the middle and manipulate events and the telling of events. One connotation of “extremism” refers Islamic fundamentalism alone. There are other definitions, including “immoderate” or “excessive” which don't carry the emotional baggage of the Twin Towers Massacre.
Second, the word “extremist” in Karimovian vocabulary also stands for the word “target”. The bravery required in Uzbekistan for even consorting with an opposition party member requires a strength of personality and moral rigor that withstands justifiable fear–for one's self, one's family and business associates, friends, and so forth. Personally, I think you would have to be somewhat extreme to stand up to Mr. Karimov's engine of power.
The Elections
Still looking for information on the candidates and the election date. When there's updates, I’ll post them here. Stay tuned . . . for the playbill.