Abstract:
The thesis describes traditional medical practices in Kazakhstan. The research project
applies the Weberian concept of “legitimacy” to folk healing in the context of Kazakhstan. The
research project has several objectives. Firstly, the paper covers the historical and modern
representation of folk medicine by the state and Kazakhstani society along with the
commercialization process of folk healing. Secondly, it classifies different types of healers
providing their services and discusses the role of religion in Kazakhstan folk medicine. Lastly,
the analytical part of this project explains the dynamics behind the legitimization of folk medical
practices by healers, patients and the state. The project focuses on identifying the ways in which
traditional Kazakhstani healers wield legitimacy into their practices. The purpose of this thesis is
to analyze the legitimation strategies employed in non-biomedical healing practices in
contemporary Kazakhstan.
Folk medicine in Kazakhstan has a long history of different social and political periods that
have transformed it into its current shape. Through those events folk healing has become an
inseparable part of a Kazakh culture. The social perception is that this sector of medicine has a
huge potential to grow in the foreseeable future. There are different types of folk healers in
Kazakhstan that vary depending on their specialization. Although there are lots of similarities
among healers, different healers tend to use different techniques to legitimize their practices.
According to the results of the project, when deciding to approach a folk practitioner, the most
influential factor for the Kazakhstani society is the traditional authority of a certain healer.
Individual characteristics and the political implications also play a significant role in providing
legitimacy to folk healers, though they were not given as much emphasis by the healer respondents as legitimation through traditional knowledge.