Central Asian Journal of Social Sciences and History

New Public Management and Performance Management in Rivers State Civil Service

WOSU, Moses Victor, OKACHI, Tochi — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper has analyzed how New Public Management (NPM) principles and performance management systems have been applied in the Rivers State civil service and their implications on efficiency, accountability and delivery of the services to the people. This research was inspired by the ongoing gap between the official implementation of public sector reforms and their real-life results in the developing administrative settings. The study, based on the NPM theory, which focuses on results-based governance, decentralization, and performance measurement, questioned the implementation and experience of this reform mechanisms at the subnational level. The qualitative research design was used, and thematic content analysis was the main method of analysis. Secondary sources of data were used, such as Rivers State government reports, civil service circulars, policy documents, and reliable media reports, and publications of labour unions, which reflect the experiences of workers. This methodology allowed a triangulated evaluation of institutional structures as well as realities of reform implementation. The results show that NPM-driven reforms have brought significant changes, especially in the digitalization of the administration, performance appraisal systems, and restructuring of procedures. Nevertheless, their influence is rather formalistic. Although performance management systems have enhanced accountability systems, they have failed to work due to poor enforcement mechanisms, low integration with incentive systems, and endemic political and bureaucratic limitations. This has led to incremental and uneven improvements in efficiency and service delivery. The paper finds that the Rivers State civil service is characterized by a hybrid system in which contemporary reform tools are mixed with established administrative practices. It suggests the enhancement of institutional capacity, performance-based accountability, and results-focused administrative culture to improve the results of the reforms.

Ethnic and Cultural Interactions of The Khozem Oasis Population with The Peoples of The Lower Volga and Southern Siberia During The Period of Amir Timur and The Timurids

Svetlana Safarova Satimovna — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This article offers comprehensive insights into the cultural connections formed between the residents of the Khorezm oasis and the peoples of Rus' and the Volga region since ancient times. It notably presents well-supported facts illustrating the revival of cultural and economic interactions during the period of Amir Timur and the Timurids. Additionally, the article shares intriguing details about the social and ethnic kinship bonds linking Siberian peoples with those of Khorezm.

Folk Holidays as the Historical Roots of Uzbek Spirituality

Baxtigul Razzaqovna Gapparovna — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A nation's developmental path and socioeconomic vitality can often be understood through its national holidays. The Uzbek people possess a multi-millennial tradition of festive and ritual culture that lies at the heart of their national identity. Despite their rich historical, architectural, and scientific heritage, detailed studies of national holidays and traditional ethno-sports were significantly marginalized during the Soviet period. This study seeks to investigate the origins, socio-cultural importance, and recent developments of Uzbek national holidays and traditional games (ethno-sports), filling a gap in current cultural, historical, and anthropological research.

The Folklore of Khorezm and Its Historical Roots

Umida B. Babadjanova — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding folklore from an epistemological perspective requires a multidisciplinary approach that extends beyond just linguistic theories to include the historical, anthropological, and sociocultural development of human thought. This paper explores the origins, structural types, and evolutionary path of Uzbek folklore, with a special emphasis on the Khorezm region. By integrating historical chronicles from ancient scholars like Al-Biruni and Herodotus, archaeological discoveries from the Khorezm civilization, and ethnographic data ranging from early rituals to the 19th century, this research traces the lineage of traditional oral and performative arts. The results reveal how primitive hunting mimicry and Zoroastrian fire rituals transformed into the Lazgi dance and later into the highly formalized street theater (maskharaboz and kizikchi) of the 18th and 19th centuries. The study concludes that the combination of music, dance, and oral storytelling in Khorezm formed the foundation for today's modern Central Asian oral musical drama.

The History of Movarounnahr and its Source Analysis in "Futuh Al-Buldan" By Ahmad Ibn Yahya Al-Balazuri

Boburjon Talibov, Dildora Nishanova — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the representation of Transoxiana (Māwarāʾ al-Nahr) in Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā al-Balādhurī’s Futūḥ al-Buldān, with particular attention to its source-critical and historiographical features. The analysis focuses on the narrative techniques employed in the work, including the use of isnād (chain of transmission), biographical reporting of transmitters (ruwāt), and instances of abbreviated narration where full chains are omitted. These methodological choices reflect the early Islamic historiographical tradition, which was closely connected to ḥadīth scholarship and its standards of authentication. The study further highlights al-Balādhurī’s reliance on a diverse network of transmitters from various regions, including scholars associated with Transoxiana, thereby demonstrating the geographical breadth of intellectual exchange in the early Islamic period. Special attention is given to the role of Central Asian scholars within the transmission chains, which underscores their contribution to the formation and preservation of historical knowledge. The findings indicate that Futūḥ al-Buldān should be regarded not only as a historical narrative of Islamic conquests but also as an important source for understanding the development of early Islamic historiography and its methodological foundations. The work reflects a transitional stage in historical writing, where critical approaches to sources and transmission began to take shape within the broader framework of Islamic scholarly tradition.