American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences ISSN (E): 2832-1766 Volume 24, May - 2024 P a g e | 18 www.americanjournal.org THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SMALL AND MEDIUM- SIZED CITIES IN UZBEKISTAN Kurbanaliyeva H. I. Senior teacher of Tashkent State University of Economics A B S T R A C T K E Y W O R D S The article describes the socio-economic migration situation expected in Uzbekistan and the opportunities related to resources, which motivate the development of small and medium-sized cities, and the importance of controlling and scientifically managing this process. Small and medium-sized cities, agglomeration, capital city, urban sociology, sociological studies with monitoring of the "leading city" system. Introduction People's healthy lifestyle, economic stability, prosperous life are determined by the development of architecture and infrastructures, management systems, the scale of small and medium entrepreneurship, industrial development and the success of other areas. The appearance of settlements determines the future growth of the country. The reason is that social and economic development cannot happen without the participation of small regions. In the future, the basis of Uzbekistan's development will be a network of large and medium-sized cities and agglomerations, which will become the centers attracting small towns and urban-type settlements. This ensures equal distribution of production forces and human resources in the country, accelerates the development of industry and service sector. This vital need shows the need to study the efforts being made in this direction at the level of state and local government bodies, the changes being implemented scientifically through sociological research and practical monitoring research. In the field of urban sociology, the study of cities begins with dividing them into types from a typological point of view based on quantitative and qualitative indicators, because the socio- demographic characteristics of the population living there are determined by the specialization of cities and the number of inhabitants. It should be noted that cities can be specialized in one field or multifunctional, accordingly, distinguish industrial cities, transport centers (ports, railway centers), scientific cities, touristic cities, resort cities, etc. possible The number of inhabitants is the basis for dividing cities into large, medium and small cities. It should also be noted that the division of cities into types depending on the population is carried out differently in different countries. Because it takes into account the territorial, quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the country. For example, since 1955, regions with a population of over 100,000 have been recognized as cities in the PRC. As a result of the administrative reform of 1978, this indicator was reduced to 3 thousand. 85% of the American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences Volume 24, May - 2024 P a g e | 19 www.americanjournal.org population should be employed in fields other than agriculture. This reform justifies the rapid increase in the country's urbanization rate.1 In our country, cities with a population of up to 20,000 are called small cities, and those with a population of 50,000 to 100,000 are called medium-sized cities. First of all, these are district centers and cities subordinate to the district.2 The majority of small and medium-sized cities with a population of up to 50,000 are in our country. Almost a quarter of our population lives in them, that is, about 8 million people. According to the results of the research, by 2025, their population may increase by three times.3 This situation justifies the need to study the development of small and medium-sized cities on the basis of monitoring sociological research. Because sociology studies this field in a combination of economic, political, socio-demographic, cultural fields and can make scientific predictions by analyzing its future prospects through the pair of factors. Today, among the problems related to cities in our country, migration and uneven distribution of population in different regions stand out. In general, it is not unusual for people living in rural areas to move to cities. If we look at history, this situation has always existed. But this process cannot be left unchecked. Otherwise, as in some countries, the uneven distribution of the population in the regions of the country leads to excessive population growth in one region and depopulation of some regions, which in turn leads to economic problems, dissatisfaction and alienation in society, various deviant and suicidal situations, among the population of society. causes unpleasantness such as the increase of the gap between the rich and the poor. For example, let's look at the People's Republic of China or Russia, which are considered one of the largest countries. Although China has surprised the world community with its economic growth in recent years, it has many problems within the society. A high level of urbanization is typical for this country. From 1979 to 2014, the share of the population in cities increased from 19.0% to 54.8%.4 Economic differences between regions are the reason for the uneven distribution of the population across the country, resulting in a huge gap between the rich and the poor. A number of problems are faced in the formation of the middle class. Although the country's population has a high level of patriotism and national identity, there are problems with the social-psychological situation and satisfaction with one's life. In order to eliminate the occurrence of such problems in the society, a reasonable state policy should be carried out. It is important to study the motives of population migration from villages to cities. These motives include the need of the population to acquire a profession, to continue studying in higher educational institutions, to improve their social and household conditions, family conditions, and the desire to be employed in fields other than agriculture. Therefore, it is possible to find solutions to this problem by urbanizing rural areas. 1 Погудина Юлия Юрьевна. Особенности процесса урбанизации в КНР (1978–2012 гг.): пример формирования Чжэнчжоуской агломерации в провинции Хэнань: диссертация ... кандидата Исторических наук: 07.00.03 / Погудина Юлия Юрьевна;[Место защиты: Санкт-Петербургский институт истории Российской академии наук].- Санкт-Петербург, 2016.-С-55. 2 Б.Эргашев/А.Ахмерова: Будущее урбанизации Узбекистана в руках бизнесаhttps://centrasia.org/newsA.php?st=1296639000 3 Потенциал малых городов Узбекистана: как его развивать https //www.review. 4 РОССИЯ И КИТАЙ: ИСТОРИЯ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВА: материалы V международной научно- практической конференции. Отв. Ред. Д.В.Буяров, Д.В.Кузнецов, Н.В.Киреева. – 2015. – Вып. 5. – С.270 American Journal of Technology and Applied Sciences Volume 24, May - 2024 P a g e | 20 www.americanjournal.org If we look at the situation in our country, in the words of the American sociologist and economist Saski Sassen, we can see that the leading urban system, that is, the rapid attraction of people living outside the capital city, and the increase in the population.5 In order to eliminate this situation, it is important to develop several more large cities and agglomerations in the country. This measure diverts population flow from one city to several and reduces demographic pressure. It also causes the development of other regions. For this purpose, a number of research centers and independent institutes operating in our country are conducting a number of monitoring studies and research on the development prospects of small and medium-sized cities. For example, the Institute of Economic Research conducted large-scale studies in this direction. According to their research, in order to reduce the demographic pressure on the city of Tashkent, it is necessary to develop two agglomerations and another large city that can accommodate 500-800 thousand inhabitants. More than a hundred cities and towns in our country occupy a place in the life of our country with their unique quantitative and qualitative indicators. Each of these regions has its own opportunities and prospects. In this way, it occupies an important place in the economy of our country. Today, the construction of automobile factories in Asaka and Samarkand, gas-chemical plant in Shortan, oil refinery in Bukhara, establishment of independent industrial- economic zone of Navoi, Jizzakh, Angren show that positive results are being achieved in this direction in our country. It is known from the world experience that the formation of new agglomerations on the territory of the country is carried out through the development of small and medium-sized cities. If we look at the first stages of the urbanization of the PRC, we can see that it is precisely this aspect, that is, the potential of small and medium-sized cities was not used in the formation of large cities, and this led to negative socio-economic consequences in their management.6 In short, the development of small and medium-sized cities is important in our country. This issue is determined by criteria such as the migration situation in our country, demographic growth rates of the population, land and water opportunities, and the need for industrialization. In order to increase the effectiveness of the work carried out in this direction and to ensure the productivity of those in the future, it is appropriate to conduct monitoring sociological research. 5 Saskia Sassen. Cities in a World Economy. Chapper 3. National and Transnational Urban System 6https://old.review.uz/ru/article/127