KAZAKHSTANI HISTORY NARRATIVES FROM THE STATE PERSPECTIVE AND ITS SOCIETAL PERCEPTION

Abstract

Understanding the role of history in shaping a nation's identity is paramount. The narrative surrounding historical events holds immense power, capable of fueling ethnic tensions and a host of other complications. Thus, our study asks the research question, “How does society in Kazakhstan perceive the state narrative of history?”. While previous research has explored the use of history to construct national identity, it has not delved into the perceptions and levels of trust people have toward the state's narrative, particularly in Kazakhstan. This study examines how society, especially the younger generation, trusts the historical narrative presented in textbooks. Moreover, this research aims to analyze alternative sources of narratives considered credible by the population. We employed a mixed-methods approach that included interviews and surveys to investigate this matter. We formulated three hypotheses and explored the correlation between education level, school type, occupation type, and trust in the state's narrative. Data was gathered through surveys and analyzed using the STATA software. Our findings revealed that higher education level does not have a significant relationship with trust in the textbook narrative. However, our study results related to school type and occupation type were partially validated. Thus, our study suggests developing objective narration and critical thinking. Additionally, this study provides a basis for further exploration of the level of trust in historical narratives among the population.