Socio-Ecological Consequences of The Agro-Industrial Complex of The Uzbek SSR (The Aral Sea Disaster, 1960–1980)

This article examines the Aral Sea ecological disaster as a direct consequence of the agro-industrial complex of the Uzbek SSR during the 1960–1980 period. The causal relationship between the expansion of irrigation infrastructure, the intensification of cotton monoculture, and the unprecedented desiccation of the Aral Sea — one of the largest ecological catastrophes of the twentieth century — is analysed in detail. Drawing on quantitative data triangulation, comparative-historical methodology, and international environmental research, the article demonstrates the impacts on the population of Karakalpakstan and surrounding regions. The study contributes to a broader understanding of the mechanisms through which centrally planned agrarian policies can inflict irreversible ecological damage.

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