Public Perceptions of the Aral Sea Disaster in Uzbekistan

Abstract

This study focuses on how the Uzbek public perceives the Aral Sea disaster, the role of the government, the UN, and other agencies, and their overall attitude toward the future of the region. This research is based on an online survey of 599 people across Uzbekistan. The results show that the participants are largely sup-portive of government and optimistic for the future of the Aral Sea region, despite also being concerned for its environment. The role of traditional and social media plays a crucial role in informing and shaping peo-ple’s opinions. A sense of inclusion and representation within the decision-making process led to increased government support amongst the attitudes of the participants.