The Transformation Of The Kazakh Identity

Alparslan Özkan

Jan 2022 · Net Kitaplık Yayıncılık

About this ebook

“…In the Kazakh case, the historical contradiction between the state policies and nomadic society resulted in massive population loss of nomadic Kazakhs in 1930s. The nomadic economy and social order were destroyed. Although nomadic Kazakhs showed great resistance to the collectivization process much more than other periods, their resistance eventually failed. In this failure, both the military power of the Soviet state and the 19th century destruction of the Kazakh zhuzes and the asabiyyah based on nomadism played a major role. Therefore, the regional and fragmented struggle of the Kazakhs did not turn into a mass resistance. This case, which was the last widespread war between the nomadic and settled world in recent history, resulted in the destruction of the whole nomadic life of the “Asian half-man half-horse” in Kazakhstan.”

About the author

Alparslan Özkan completed his undergraduate education at the Middle East Technical University, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, by qualifying for the high honor list. He graduated from the Eurasian Studies master’s program at the same university as the highest-ranking student in the department. He wrote articles and essays on the Turkish Republics and their history at the Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM). He participated in academic symposiums and conferences as a speaker. Today, he continues his academic studies at Hacettepe University, Department of Turkish Studies, Ph.D. program.