“REGIONAL LEADERSHIP” DYNAMICS IN UZBEK-KAZAKH RELATIONS (1991–2016)

This article presents a scientific and theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of the “struggle for regional leadership” within the context of Uzbek-Kazakh relations. It offers a comparative examination of key political, economic, and social indicators of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan through the lens of political leadership. The study also explores how the personal relationship between the two countries' leaders at various times has influenced the dynamics of bilateral relations. Importantly, the article provides scholarly evidence that the notion of a struggle for regional leadership is not a defining factor in Uzbek-Kazakh relations.