Variations on Uzbek Identity

<p> Throughout its history the concept of Uzbekness or more generally of a Turkic-speaking sedentary population has continuously attracted members of other groups to join as being Uzbek promises opportunities to enlarge ones social network. Accession is comparatively easy as Uzbekness is grounded in a cultural model of territoriality rather than genealogy as the basis for social attachments. It acknowledges regional variation and the possibility of membership by voluntary decision. Therefore the boundaries of being Uzbek vary almost by definition incorporating elements of local languages cultural patterns and social organization. This book combines an historical analysis with thorough ethnographic field research looking at differences in the conceptualization of group boundaries and the social practices they entail. It does so by analysing decision-making processes by Uzbeks on the individual as well as cognitive level and the political configurations that surround them.</p>