Post-Boycott Legitimacy Repair in Global Supply Chains : The Re-engagement of Uzbekistan’s Textile Industry

Uzbekistan’s cotton and textile sector is emerging from an NGO-led eleven-year boycott that successfully ended state-imposed forced labour but left new challenges for reintegration into Western supply chains. This study examines the boycott’s unintended consequences and how to ethically re-engage. We identify multifaceted barriers - including skill and quality gaps, weak local institutions, and enduring reputational stigma - that hinder Uzbek firms’ re-entry. We also outline stakeholder-recommended strategies such as international certifications, independent monitoring, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and capacity-building. The concept of post-boycott “legitimacy repair” and “remedial isomorphism” are introduced, offering insightsinto managing supply chain reintegration after such sanctions.