Nagoya University hosts roundtable on evolution of Uzbekistan’s ‘mahalla’ self-governance system

On April 17, 2026, Kakhramon Kuranbaev, Chairman of the Association of Mahallas of the Republic of Uzbekistan, visited Nagoya University to deliver a keynote address and participate in a roundtable hosted by the Center for Asian Legal Exchange (CALE).

The roundtable, titled “From Tradition to Institution: Evolution of the Mahalla System in Contemporary Uzbekistan,” explored how the “mahalla,” a traditional neighborhood self-governance institution rooted in Central Asian urban civilization, has been transformed under President Mirziyoyev’s reforms into a modern pillar of Uzbekistan’s social administration.

The event drew faculty from the Graduate School of Law and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, as well as students from various programs. Expert commentary was provided by Dr. Aktam Jalilov, a Nagoya University alumnus and Director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Problems.

Kuranbaev later met with Nagoya University President Naoshi Sugiyama and Vice President Yoshiyuki Suto, who highlighted Nagoya University’s longstanding partnership with Uzbekistan dating to the early 2000s. Both sides expressed their intention to deepen academic and research cooperation going forward.