Polygamy as a Marker of Islamic Identity in Post-Secular Uzbekistan

Abstract (English)

This study examines the evolving role of polygamy as a contested marker of Islamic identity in post-secular Uzbekistan, shaped by the interplay of Islamic traditions, Soviet legacies, and contemporary socio-cultural transformations. Despite its legal prohibition, polygamy has steadily gained visibility across various social strata, underscoring the multidimensional negotiations that individuals undertake amid Soviet legacies, Islamic traditions, and contemporary socio-cultural transformations. Drawing on participant observation, surveys, and in-depth interviews with Uzbeks from different regions, the paper highlights how everyday decisions surrounding polygamy reflect broader questions of religious practice, gender roles, and social legitimacy.
A key contribution of this work is its detailed exploration of the gendered dynamics underpinning polygamy. Women, including those with strong religious convictions, overwhelmingly reject this practice as incompatible with their personal rights and self-determination. Conversely, men who engage in polygamy frequently resort to covert or informal strategies ‒ secret religious ceremonies, social coercion of first wives, and various forms of communal legitimation ‒ to maintain multiple marital unions. Through these gendered negotiations, polygamy emerges not merely as a relic of “traditional” culture but as a lens through which one can discern the fluid, adaptive nature of Islamic identity in contemporary Uzbekistan.
By positioning polygamy at the intersection of status aspirations, expressions of piety, and changing societal norms, this research offers new insights into how Islamic identity is continually constructed, contested, and transformed in Greater Central Asia. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on the complexities of gender, religion, and post-Soviet transitions, suggesting that polygamy remains a critical flashpoint for analyzing how individuals and communities forge new pathways of belonging and legitimacy in a rapidly changing world.