This article examines the national concept of "mustaqillik" (independence) as the cornerstone of Uzbekistan's state ideology during Islam Karimov’s presidency following the country's declaration of independence in 1991. Beyond political sovereignty, this ideology shaped Uzbekistan's economic, foreign policy, and cultural trajectories. In economics, the "Uzbek Economic Model" emphasized state control, economic protectionism, and import substitution, achieving stability but at the cost of low productivity and persistent corruption. The "defensive self-sufficiency" foreign policy aimed to maintain parity, avoid alliances, and reject expansionist ideologies while addressing regional security challenges, particularly in Afghanistan. Culturally, the regime sought to craft a secular national identity centered on historical figures, such as Amir Timur, and the revival of pre-Islamic traditions, alongside selective accommodation of Islamic heritage. The study highlights how these policies reflected and reinforced Karimov’s vision of a sovereign Uzbekistan, balancing stability with the limitations of state-centric governance.

Uzbekistan, Mustaqillik, Economic Model, Defensive Self-Sufficiency, National Identity, Islam Karimov, Post-Soviet Transition, State Ideology, Nation-Building.

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