This week we will focus on Nationalism as a product of colonialism in Central Asia. As an example, we will take Kazakhstan’s journey in achieving independence and building up its nationalistic views. It will help us to think about how being part of the Soviet Union affected many countries in Central Asia that have not reached the “post-colonial” stage yet. It will allow us to dive into the historical background of “Kazakh SSR” to tie it to modern Kazakhstan.
From the Steppe to Astana: the Development of Kazakh Nationalism
Zackary Thomas Slykhouse in his work From the Steppe to Astana defines nationalism as well as gives the theoretical background for the topic he is raising. According to Zackary, nationalism is “a strong political and social force based on the principle of one sovereign nation’s right over a given national territory”, which he is undoubtful, applies to Kazakhstan. The author also goes through the stages throughout Kazakhstan’s history to explain the A-B-C framework of Miroslav Hroch and correlate it with Kazakhstan’s nationalism. You can access the text here.
Self-test:
- Explain the A-B-C theory of Nationalism by Miroslav Hroch.
- Who are 5 Arys and 3 Baiterek? What was their purpose and what mutual idea did they have?
- What happened during the 1986 Jeltoksan riots that led to Kazakhs hating Gorbachev and Kolbin?
Writing Prompts:
- Do you think Kazakhstan should change its name to “Kazakh Eli?” What might be the consequences of doing so? Should countries globalize or keep their traditions, cultures, and uniqueness?
- How can you connect Kazakhstan’s example to your experience? Does your home country promote the same ideology or does it differ?
- Soviet’s trying to “help” Kazakhs remind a lot of Westerners trying to “educate” their colonies. Which reading from past weeks can you connect to this topic? What are the similarities and differences between them?
Additional Materials:
- Threading a needle: Kazakhstan between civic and ethno-nationalist state-building
- “5 Arys and 3 Baiterek” (Library of the biographies of Alash Orda)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DmCYV45LmI (Explains Central Asia in modern days)
Video-lecture by Kara:
Tasnim Bouziane December 2, 2021
This was very informative. one of the things that grabbed my attention is the will of the president to change the name of the country. I had never heard of a country changing its name in our modern world so I researched more about the reasons why this could happen and what are the possible consequences being both positive and negative. I found it to be a bold move to change a countries name and I wondered who is responsible for it and how would the people agree on one name. changing the name of Kazakhstan to Kazakh Eli created so much controversy and the deflation of national currency did not decrease the will to use the new name. Kazakhstan ending with “stan” is seen as a limitation to the evolution of the economy and international influence. However, I think that changing the name would create a difference in the countries of Central Asia that could create conflict as it could trigger the central Asian countries that end with “-stan” because the change implies a negative perception of these countries.
Abbas Fateh ud Din Asim December 5, 2021
I feel like the struggles to break free have been see in other countries too. One example that comes to my mind is that of my own country, Pakistan which had to suffer a great deal and lose a lot of lives for the greater good of independence or even self elevation as you have mentioned. I can understand why it was the journalists or politicians that were targeted and shot. It is usually these people that are actually seen as the greatest reformers and through their words can bring substantial changes. The Soviet Union probably saw this as a way for people to be educated and then see them as what they really are and hence did whatever they could to stop them. Something like this was prevalent in Pakistan’s province Sindh where for a very long time the landlords would not allow for reforms especially education related to take place because they would think that their control over these people would decrease once they became empowered