Hokimiyat

Hokimiyat refers to the system of local executive government responsible for administration at regional, district, and municipal levels in several Central Asian countries, most notably Uzbekistan. The term derives from hokim, meaning governor or administrator, combined with a suffix that denotes an institution or authority. The hokimiyat acts as the executive arm of the state at the local level, implementing national policies, managing public services, overseeing budgeting and development planning, and coordinating with national ministries and agencies.

The structure is organized around the office of a hokim, who heads the local administration and is typically supported by deputies and various departmental directors responsible for areas such as education, health, housing, transport, and culture. Local units include viloyat hokimi (regional governor), tuman hokimi (district head), and shahar hokimi (city mayor). In Uzbekistan, hokims are appointed by the president and serve as the top executive authority in their territory, with their powers and tenure defined by national law.

Historically, hokimiyat has its roots in the Soviet-era system of state administrations and local councils. After independence, the basic framework remained while undergoing reforms that have at times emphasized centralized control, and at other times signals of decentralization and greater local accountability. The scope of hokimiyat typically covers urban planning, public services, education and health administration, housing, and infrastructure.

In discourse, hokimiyat is often discussed alongside local elected bodies and concepts of local self-government, highlighting tensions between appointment-based leadership and notions of local autonomy and accountability within the post-Soviet space.