The Role of Public Opinion in Uzbekistan’s Policy Decision Making : a Review and The Goals

The Role of Public Opinion in Uzbekistan’s Policy Decision Making :
a Review and The Goals
STUDENT : SIROJIDDIN IKROMOV
STUDENT ID :
Introduction
One can not deny the importance of public opinion as the basis of democratic government. After all, members of legislative organs and those of executive organs are elected to represent the people. It is accurate to say public opinion changed the course of our history. Immense importance given to public opinion when it comes to political decision making is one of the many common characteristics developed countries share. Historically, public opinion ended the wars, changed the incapable governments, thwarted inefficient policies at the same time with laying ground to the efficient ones. As the former Soviet State Uzbekistan has come a long way since it gained its independence. Today, it boasts the reputation of independent democratic state. Uzbekistan aims at building strong civil society as its long term goal. Previous statement begs the question. In Uzbekistan how much importance does public opinion hold, if any, when it comes to political decision making. This work intends to investigate the influence of public opinion in Uzbekistan, points out existing problems while attempting to provide certain solutions and outlines prospects of the said matter.
Research questions
This work considers the role of public opinion in Uzbekistan’s political decision making, asking :

• How much impact it has ?
• How much importance of public opinion increased over the time ?
• Cases public opinion mattered the most.
• Cases public opinion being neglected.
• What are the hurdles (if any) preventing from further increasing public opinion’s role in policy decision making ?

Literature review

• Paul Burstein “The Impact of Public Opinion on Public Policy: A Review and an Agenda” 2003. Sage Publications, Inc.
• Deborah A. Stone “policy paradox the art of political decision making” 2012. W W Norton & Company, Inc
• Веснин Алексей “Роль общественного мнения в демократической системе правления 2015. ВАК
• Ulugbek Yozdonov“Жамоатчилик фикрини ташкиллаштириш, бошқариш ва

назорат қилиш зарурати” 2021.

Research methods
Research relies on a variety of empirical methods and statistical models, such as complex of logical, comparative legal, systematic, system-structural methods, survey experiments and social
network analysis and the method of analysis and synthesis.
"Public opinion" is the distribution of opinions and attitudes held by the public. Individuals hold a wide variety of opinions. By measuring these opinions at the individual level and aggregating them, the proportions of the population with particular beliefs and preferences can be determined. When measuring public opinion, pollsters are not only concerned with the content of public opinion, i.e. what it is that people think and believe, but also with the stability of people's opinions over time. It is also useful to know how strongly the public holds particular opinions and the direction those opinions seem to be moving. The content, stability, intensity and direction of public opinion are all important indicators of what the public wants and expects out of its government and political leaders. While popular opinion is not the only factor that determines public policy, it is generally the most important one. The role of public opinion in a representative democracy is further discussed below.
What is Public Opinion
Importance of Public Opinion
Public opinion occupies an important place in democracy. The democratic government derives its powers from the public opinion and it is based on it. Each government tries to keep the public Opinion in its favor and it should not go against it at any cost. The ministers are very much afraid of the criticism voiced in the press. The electorate elects the government after every four or five years. After the elections the government cannot become despotic because of public opinion government which violates the public opinion cannot stay long. The public Opinion acts as beacon to government and legislature. The opposition parties create public opinion in their favor by criticizing the government. The voice of the people is the voice of God. Thus the government which ignores public opinion, is bound to meet its doom very soon. Public opinion is considered the best protector of the fundamental rights of the people. In countries where public opinion is not awakened, the government becomes absolute. It ts, therefore, collectedly said that, An alert and enlightened public opinion is the first essential of democracy. Even in dictatorship, government tries to create public opinion in its favor and for this purpose it controls the means which create it.

Historical Tendencies in Uzbekistan’s Policy Decision Making
Shifts in Tendencies in Uzbekistan’s Policy Decision Making in Recent Years