From Japan's ‘Prussian Path’ to China's ‘Singapore Model’

Connectivity, energy, and transportation in Uzbekistan’s strategy vis-à-vis Russia, China, South Korea, and Japan

“…To a great extent, Uzbekistan’s proposal to China about the potential for revival of the Silk Road in the early 1990s reflected the Uzbek government’s attitude towards developing its own economic model (for comparative analysis of East and Central Asian models, see Stark 2012 ; Thompson 2017 ). While this model has often been criticized for being based on “self-reliance” and isolationism (see Fazendeiro 2015 , 2017 ), its main principles resonate with the Chinese economic model, also referred to as China’s “Singapore” model (Thompson 2017 ) or “post-socialist development state” (Bolesta 2019 ). The five main principles of Karimov’s economic reforms referred to the priority of the economy over politics (ideology), the role of the state as the main actor (reformer) in economic activity, the establishment of transparency and rule of law, a social policy orientation, and, finally, a stage-by-stage transition towards a market economy (Karimov 1992 ).…”

“…However, this model remains the distant goal of the government given the country’s low economic development and slow rate of industrialization. For the present, the Uzbek government adheres to the “developmental state” model, in which the governments shape industrial policy and spearhead infrastructure development (Bolesta 2019 : 3–8; Also Thompson 2017 ). The infrastructure development and the usage of connectivity projects in Eurasia in recent years by the Uzbek government can be considered “plan-rational” in nature.…”