In 1995, at Tashkent State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan), the Department of “Political Science” was established, becoming one of the first in the Republic of Uzbekistan. This was done by merging the “Theory of Socio-Political Relations” and “Interfaculty Theory of Socio-Political Relations” departments of the Faculty of Philosophy, following the rector’s order No. 01-21 dated February 15, 1995. The “Political Science” educational program was also introduced under this department. From 1995 to 2013, the 437 bachelor’s and 180 master’s students graduated the department.
In 1996, according to the Cabinet of Ministers, the Department of “Theory and Practice of Building a Democratic Society in Uzbekistan” was established. The department aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the reforms carried out in Uzbekistan, the works of the First President, I.A. Karimov, and the essence of the Cabinet of Ministers’ decisions, as well as the adopted normative-legal documents.
In the 2007-2008 academic year, by the order of the rector of the National University of Uzbekistan, the departments of “Political Science” and “Theory and Practice of Building a Democratic Society in Uzbekistan” of the Faculty of Philosophy were merged. The new department was named the “Department of Political Science.”
On November 1, 2014, according to the rector’s order No. 01-394, the department was renamed “Theory and Practice of Building a Democratic State and Civil Society.”
Subsequently, based on the Presidential Decree No. PQ-2527 dated May 11, 2016, titled “On Measures to Further Improve the Activities of the National University of Uzbekistan,” structural changes were made to the university, and the department was renamed “Theory and Practice of Building a Democratic State.”
On October 4, 2019, by the rector’s order No. 01-811, the departments of “Theory and Practice of Building a Democratic State” and “National Idea” were merged, resulting in the formation of the “Department of Civil Society and Legal Education.”
In the 2020-2021 academic year, the department had 38 faculty members working both full-time and part-time, including 12 doctors of science-professors, 8 PhD holders, 6 candidates of science, 3 senior lecturers, 5 lecturers, and 4 trainee teachers. Additionally, the department had 13 PhD candidates and 2 DSc candidates actively engaged in research.
On August 25, 2023, based on the decision of the expanded meeting No. 1 of the Council of the National University of Uzbekistan, the “Department of Civil Society and Legal Education” was divided into the “Department of Political Science” and the “Department of Legal Sciences.”
Currently, the “Department of Political Science” has a total of 16 staff positions, with 18 faculty members, including:
– 5 doctors of science (DSc),
– 8 PhD holders,
– 3 senior lecturers,
– 2 lecturers.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, the department’s academic potential stands at 78%. During this academic year, the faculty produced 2 textbooks, 11 teaching aids, 10 methodological guides, 4 monographs, 35 scientific articles in journals approved by the Higher Attestation Commission (OAK), 3 articles in publications indexed by Scopus and Web of Science, and 36 articles in high-impact international journals.
