LEGAL FOUNDATIONS OF MILITARY REFORM AND DEFENSE GOVERNANCE IN THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57033/mijournals-2026-9-0170Keywords:
defense system; Armed Forces; defense law; military reform; security sector governance; border security; cybersecurity; professional army; Uzbekistan.Abstract
This article analyzes the legal foundations and current development
directions of defense system reform in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The research treats
defense reform as a law-based governance process rather than a purely military-
administrative issue. It examines the Constitution, the Law on Defense, the Defense
Doctrine, the Law on the State Border, the Law on Cybersecurity, and recent presidential
acts on digital command systems and military regulations. Using formal-legal, systematic
and functional methods, the article argues that Uzbekistan’s defense system has evolved
from the initial formation of national armed forces into an integrated security model
linking military governance, border protection, cybersecurity, professional personnel
policy and accountability. Foreign literature on security sector governance is used to
assess the relationship between effectiveness, civilian control, legality and human rights.
The article concludes that the next stage of reform should focus on legal integration,
cyber-resilience standards, competence-based military personnel policy, stronger internal
complaint mechanisms and transparent civilian oversight over non-classified aspects
of defense policy.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Mamasabir ISMATOV, Muhammadnur MURODKHONOV (Author)

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