Uzbek Associations in America: Connecting Communities Across Borders

• In Event: Migrants Negotiating Identity Beyond the Soviet Space: Central Asian and White Russian Experiences

Abstract

The migration of Uzbeks to the United States represents a relatively recent phenomenon, with significant waves of migration occurring after legislative changes to U.S. immigration laws. However, earlier migration flows, often referred to as the "Turkestani migration," date back to the post-World War II period. These early movements were primarily initiated by Uzbek men who had settled in Germany and later migrated to the United States, often through marriage to foreign nationals. Over time, migration pathways expanded, particularly through Turkey, allowing Uzbeks from diverse social and economic backgrounds to settle in America. In response to the challenges of cultural preservation and adaptation, Uzbeks in the United States began forming associations as early as the 1950s, marking the initial stages of "cultural institutionalization." Today, these associations have evolved into critical instruments of cultural and social organization within the Uzbek diaspora. This study examines the historical trajectories of Uzbek migration to the United States, the sociocultural processes of institutionalization, and the role of civil society organizations in addressing the dual imperatives of cultural preservation and societal integration. By analyzing these dynamics from historical and sociological perspectives, the study highlights the complexities of diaspora life and offers insights into strategies for navigating cultural and social challenges in transnational contexts.

Author

• Shoirakhon Nurdinova, Tashkent U of Applied Sciences (Uzbekistan)