Multivectoral? A Quantitative Analysis of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Policy Communication at the United Nations

Abstract

The objective of this article is to assess Uzbekistan’s foreign policy against old and new trends after the election of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. By criticising the validity of the concept of multivectorism, this article supports the hypothesis of Uzbekistani foreign policy and interests being reimagined and reshaped by engagement with domestic, and external actors. After a reflection on the role of language and ideas in political analysis, I will employ a Structural Topic Model to test the hypothesis empirically. The findings will support the hypothesis and the use of big data to provide a less biased analysis of foreign policy trends.