From Valikhanov to Tokayev: Islam in the Kazakh Nation-Building Agenda

Yerik Tungatarov; Rustem Zholdybalin

doi:10.32350/jitc.152.02

Yerik Tungatarov Research Institute for Jochi Ulus Studies, Astana, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4708-4789
Rustem Zholdybalin Research Institute for Jochi Ulus Studies, Astana, Kazakhstan https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2473-6925

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.152.02

Keywords: historical memory, Kazakh nationalism, nation-building, national code, national idea, national identity, secularism

Abstract

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Studies on the Kazakh state and nationhood usually overlook the complex role of Islam in the preservation of cultural identities and as a means of political control. This research aims to analyse the place of Islam in Kazakhstan’s national discourse and its connection with nationalism, state-building, and identity formation. The paper examines how early Kazakh intellectuals, Soviet policymakers, and modern leaders have incorporated or excluded Islamic factors in shaping Kazakh identity and governance. The trajectory of Islam in Kazakhstan from the late 19th century up to the post-Soviet period is analyzed, with a focus on three distinct eras: The earliest knowledge of Kazakh intellectualism and Islam, Soviet suppression and accommodation of Islam, and the contemporary state-sponsored resurgence of religious observances. Drawing on archival research, literary analyses, and historical texts, it explores Islam’s dual role as a cultural cornerstone and a political instrument. Key figures of the Kazakh national movement are analyzed for their nuanced relationships with Islam and its integration into Kazakh nationalism, emphasizing Islam’s securitized yet symbolic position. By situating Islam within the broader discourse of Kazakh nationalism, this study contributes to understanding the interplay between religion, identity, and state-building. It highlights Islam’s adaptability as a cultural and political resource in Kazakhstan, offering insights into the dynamics of secular governance and religious identity in a post-Soviet context.

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Author Biography

Rustem Zholdybalin, Research Institute for Jochi Ulus Studies, Astana, Kazakhstan

junior research fellow

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