The role of the media in strengthening freedom of expression and democratic institutions in Uzbekistan

https://doi.org/10.35912/jomabs.v2i3.3089
Published: May 28, 2025

Abstract:

Purpose: This study examines the role of mass media in strengthening freedom of expression and supporting the development of democratic institutions in Uzbekistan. It emphasizes how the media operates not only as an information provider but also as a strategic tool that facilitates communication between the state and society, creating a transparent and open information environment essential for democracy.

Research methodology: This study uses historical-logical, content, and systematic analyses, along with observation, to examine the evolution of media functions, legislative frameworks ensuring media freedom, and institutional practices affecting press independence and accountability in Uzbekistan.

Results: The findings indicate that mass media play a decisive role in shaping public awareness, political participation, and civic culture. The transition into the digital age has expanded the functions of the media, making it a central driver of social and political change. This study underscores the urgency of building strong institutional, legal, and economic mechanisms to preserve independence, limit manipulation, and promote balanced regulation between freedom of speech and digital security, especially against misinformation and harmful content.

Conclusions: Mass media in Uzbekistan has become a cornerstone for advancing democratic values and civic engagement. Sustaining this role requires coherent state policies that encourage openness and mitigate digital threats.

Limitations: This study is limited to the national context of Uzbekistan and focuses primarily on institutional and legislative dimensions, thus not capturing informal or regional media dynamics.

Contribution: This research enriches the scholarly debate on transitional democracies by providing insights and recommendations for policymakers, media institutions, and academics to foster free expression and consolidate democratic governance.

Keywords:
1. Democratic society
2. Dialogue between the state and society
3. Freedom of Speech
4. Information Policy
5. Mass Media
Authors:
Eshbekov Bakhodir Nurullayevich
Uzbekistan University of World Languages
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3741-6628
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How to Cite
Nurullayevich, E. B. (2025). The role of the media in strengthening freedom of expression and democratic institutions in Uzbekistan. Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Business Studies, 2(3), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.35912/jomabs.v2i3.3089
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Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): May
Articles
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    Smolar, A. (1991). Democratization in Central?Eastern Europe and International Security. Adelphi Papers, 32(266), 25-34. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/05679329108449081

    Tampere, K. (2007). The Media’s Role in a Transition Society: From Public Lies to Public Trust?. Communication in the Age of Suspicion: Trust and the Media, 141-154. doi:https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230206243_12

    Van Aelst, P., & Walgrave, S. (2016). Information and arena: The dual function of the news media for political elites. Journal of Communication, 66(3), 496-518. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12229

    Wanta, W., Golan, G., & Lee, C. (2004). Agenda Setting and International News: Media Influence on Public Perceptions of Foreign Nations. Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly - Journalism Mass Commun, 81, 364-377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/107769900408100209

    Whitten-Woodring, J., & James, P. (2012). Fourth estate or mouthpiece? A formal model of media, protest, and government repression. Political Communication, 29(2), 113-136. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2012.671232

    ?????, ?. ?. (2015). ???????????? ??????? ??????? ???????? ??????????. ??????? ??????(10), 991-993.

    ?????????, ?. ?. (2010). ???????? ???????? ?????????? ? ?????-????? ??? ??????? ???????????? ????????????? ??????. ?????. ?????????. ??????????(69), 52-57.

    ??????, ?. ?., & ?????, ?. ?. (2017). ??????? ??? ?? ????????????? ????????-???????????. ??????? ?????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????????? ? ???????????(1), 131-134.

    ??????????, ?. (2003). ??????????????? ?????? ? ???. ??????????????? ?????? ? ??????????? ??????(2003), 113-124.

    ??????, ?., & ????????, ?. (2023). ??????? ???????? ???????? ?? ?????????????????? ????? ???????? ? ????????. ??????????, 342.

    ???????, ?. (2024). ??????????? ??? ? ????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????? ? ????? ???????????. ???????? ? ?????????, 5(1), 80-88.

    ???????, ?. ?. (2024). ?????? ??? ????????????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????????????? ????????. GOLDEN BRAIN, 2(24), 11-15.

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  2. Alikulov, X., & Haqqulov, N. (2020). Spiritual Maturity and Philosophical Thinking Dependence of Development. ISJ Theoretical & Applied Science, 4(84), 164-167. doi:https://doi.org/10.15863/tas.2020.04.84.28
  3. Anstead, N., Edwards, L., Livingstone, S., & Stoilova, M. (2025). The Potential for Media Literacy to Combat Misinformation: Results of a Rapid Evidence Assessment. International Journal of Communication, 19, 23. doi:http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/124341
  4. Arendt, F. (2024). The media and democratization: A long-term macro-level perspective on the role of the press during a democratic transition. Political Communication, 41(1), 26-44. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2023.2238652
  5. Ariel, Y., & Elishar, V. (2025). Political Communication and the Hype Cycle: Tracing Its Evolution Across the Digital Era. Journalism and Media, 6(2), 87. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/journalmedia6020087
  6. Bidzilya, Y., Snitsarchuk, L., Solomin, Y., Shkurko, H., & Shvets, V. (2024). The role of the media in the formation of national (ethnic) identity. Cadernos de Educação, Tecnologia e Sociedade, 17, 208-219. doi:https://doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v17.nse2.208-219
  7. Boomgaarden, H. G., & Schmitt-Beck, R. (2019). The Media and Political Behavior. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.621
  8. Corbu, N., & Buturoiu, R. (2015). Repetitive and Competitive Media Frames and How They Affect Audiences’ Trust Redefining Community in Intercultural Context-RCIC (Vol. 15, pp. 153-164).
  9. Denniss, E., & Lindberg, R. (2025). Social media and the spread of misinformation: infectious and a threat to public health. Health promotion international, 40(2), daaf023. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf023
  10. Dragomir, M. (2024). The capture effect: How media capture affects journalists, markets and audiences. Central European Journal of Communication, 17(36), 162-184. doi:https://doi.org/10.51480/1899-5101.17.2(36).586
  11. Glogger, I., Shehata, A., Hopmann, D. N., & Kruikemeier, S. (2023). The world around us and the picture (s) in our heads: The effects of news media use on belief organization. Communication Monographs, 90(2), 159-180. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2022.2149830
  12. Kurmanov, B. (2024). Digital citizen activism in central asia: Beyond contestation and cooperation. Polarization, shifting borders and liquid governance, 155. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-44584-2_9
  13. Lajnef, K. (2023). The effect of social media influencers' on teenagers Behavior: an empirical study using cognitive map technique. Current Psychology, 42(22), 19364-19377. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04273-1
  14. Papathanassopoulos, S., & Giannouli, I. (2025). Political Communication in the Age of Platforms. Encyclopedia, 5(2), 77. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5020077
  15. Peters, H. P. (1994). Mass media as an information channel and public arena. Risk, 5, 241.
  16. Pira, F. (2023). Disinformation a problem for democracy: profiling and risks of consensus manipulation. Frontiers in sociology, 8, 1150753. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2023.1150753
  17. Plattner, M. F. (2012). Media and democracy: The long view. Journal of democracy, 23(4), 62-73. doi:https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2012.0081
  18. Price, M. E., & Krug, P. (2000). The Enabling Environment for Free and Independent Media. SSRN Electronic Journal, 1-52. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.245494
  19. Ruzmurodova, L. (2023). Supporting and Establishing Media Development Strategies in Uzbekistan. 2, 2023.
  20. Seipp, T. J., Helberger, N., de Vreese, C., & Ausloos, J. (2023). Dealing with opinion power in the platform world: Why we really have to rethink media concentration law. Digital Journalism, 11(8), 1542-1567. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2022.2161924
  21. Shafer, R., & Freedman, E. (2003). Obstacles to the Professionalization of Mass Media in Post-Soviet Central Asia: a case study of Uzbekistan. Journalism Studies, 4, 91-103. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14616700306495
  22. Shehata, A., Andersson, D., Glogger, I., Hopmann, D. N., Andersen, K., Kruikemeier, S., & Johansson, J. (2021). Conceptualizing long-term media effects on societal beliefs. Annals of the International Communication Association, 45(1), 75-93. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/23808985.2021.1921610
  23. Smolar, A. (1991). Democratization in Central?Eastern Europe and International Security. Adelphi Papers, 32(266), 25-34. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/05679329108449081
  24. Tampere, K. (2007). The Media’s Role in a Transition Society: From Public Lies to Public Trust?. Communication in the Age of Suspicion: Trust and the Media, 141-154. doi:https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230206243_12
  25. Van Aelst, P., & Walgrave, S. (2016). Information and arena: The dual function of the news media for political elites. Journal of Communication, 66(3), 496-518. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jcom.12229
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  27. Whitten-Woodring, J., & James, P. (2012). Fourth estate or mouthpiece? A formal model of media, protest, and government repression. Political Communication, 29(2), 113-136. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10584609.2012.671232
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