Exploring masculinities when migration aspirations are thwarted: the affective contours of young Uzbek men in Uzbekistan

Drawing from case studies of three young Uzbek men who made every attempt to migrate but experienced thwarted aspirations, this chapter maps the affective contours of Uzbek men in relation to voluntary immobility to shed light on the reproduction of hegemonic masculinities in Uzbekistan. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Uzbekistan’s economic challenges have fuelled a growing desire among Uzbeks, particularly men, to seek better opportunities abroad. Uzbek men often see migrating abroad for work as an essential rite of passage into manhood, even though the challenges they encounter overseas can jeopardise their sense of masculinity. This chapter draws on 13 months of fieldwork in Uzbekistan to explore the varying interpretations of (non-)migration in relation to hegemonic masculinities among young Uzbek men. Central to the analysis is the mapping of the affective contours of young Uzbek men who agentically navigate their thwarted aspirations and negotiations around (non-)migration in relation to filial responsibilities, material aspirations and gendered nationalism. At the core of Uzbek manhood is the fulfillment of filial responsibilities, wherein material aspirations and exchanges play an integral role in achieving this familial duty. Moreover, gendered nationalism intersecting with recent Islamic revival greatly reshapes how Uzbek men perceive themselves and genderise transnational processes. Uncovering the voluntary immobility of Uzbek men could advance our knowledge of contemporary Uzbek society and post-Soviet transitions and contribute to our understanding of the complexities of masculinities in the Global South.