CORRUPTION AND PUBLIC OPINION: SCIENTIFIC APPROACH AND PRACTICAL CONCLUSIONS

On June 24, 2025, in Tashkent, a roundtable discussion titled “Corruption in the Mirror of Public Opinion” was held at the initiative of the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr" as part of the ongoing scientific and practical seminar “Topical Issues of Studying and Shaping Public Opinion in Uzbekistan: Methods, Theory, and Practice.”

This academic event was aimed at analyzing public opinion on corruption based on the results of sociological surveys conducted among the population of Uzbekistan, strengthening mutual trust between the state and society, and determining the role of sociological analysis in the development of effective anti-corruption policy.

The seminar was opened by the Director of the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr," Doctor of Economics Rakhimova N.Kh., who emphasized the importance of sociological research in aligning civic positions with state policy, as well as the institutional role of public opinion in building a healthy society.

The seminar also featured welcoming speeches from:

• Gulrukh Anvarovna Agzamova, Chairperson of the Committee on Democratic Institutions and Civil Society Development of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
• Kamoliddin Nuriddinovich Ishanhojaev, Chairman of the Council of the National Association of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations of Uzbekistan;
• Professor Mansur Bobomurodovich Bekmurodov, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Chair of the Scientific Council at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Head of the Department of Sociology and Psychology of Management;
• F. Otakhanov, Chairperson of the Public Council under the Anti-Corruption Agency, who gave a detailed overview of the systematic reforms underway to combat corruption, mechanisms to ensure transparency, and the promotion of civic engagement.

During the event, three key reports prepared by experts from the “Ijtimoiy Fikr” Center were presented.

V.S. Alekseyeva delivered a report analyzing citizens’ views on corruption in Uzbekistan, the level of trust in the state system, and citizens’ personal experiences regarding this issue. Her report identified public perceptions of corruption, its root causes, and attitudes toward its consequences.

M.Sh. Seitov focused on corruption issues within healthcare institutions. His report addressed unofficial payments, injustice in the provision of medical services, and the level of legal awareness among the population.

A.B. Tadzhibayev dedicated his speech to corruption in maternity hospitals, addressing violations of the rights of mothers and children and presenting citizens’ opinions on this topic.

The scientific significance of the seminar lies in its approach to examining the problem of corruption through the lens of public opinion. Analyzing public sentiment not only enables an assessment of government performance but also provides justification for legal reforms and supports the development of an effective accountability system. In this process, the media, free access to information, and active civic engagement play a decisive role.

As a result of the seminar, general conclusions and practical recommendations were formulated, based on which specific measures are planned in cooperation with government bodies, civil society institutions, and mass media. Shaping public consciousness, ensuring transparency, and holding government policies accountable are considered fundamental to sustainable development.

Moreover, this scientific and practical seminar became a vivid example of effective interaction between public oversight, civic activism, and scientific methodology in the implementation of the national anti-corruption policy.