NEO-TRIBALISM IN KAZAKHSTAN: THE MANIFESTATIONS OF RU-BASED IDENTITY AND THE RETURN OF THE 'BATYRS'

Abstract

The motivation behind composing this thesis stemmed from the perplexity on why the contemporary settled Kazakh society in Kazakhstan continues to not only align itself with tribal (ru) associations, but also actively participates in tribal activities on a consistent basis. The existing scholarship sheds light on some of the practices and places of memory and the existence of actors, apart from the state, that contribute their own funds for building a variety of commemorative sites in honor of their tribes and tribal warriors. Moreover, the prevailing research literature has predominantly focused on well-known commemorative locations. However, there is limited research on the study of the agency and inner workings of non-state local actors (ru-based associations) as full-fledged actors in the niche of national identity and development of national identity. Therefore, in order to examine the dynamic social processes on the ground, I ask a series of research questions. In particular, what are the manifestations of ru-based identity in Kazakhstan and how is it performed in contemporary society? Does such ru identity pose challenges to the national identity promoted by the state or complement it? The entanglement of the state rhetoric on tribal identity, on the one hand, and the promotion of local agenda by local actors, on the other, exhibit an interesting interweave, where they both feed and respond to each other. Using a firsthand ethnographic study based on tangible primary materials and semi-structured interviews with respondents that represent diverse Kazakh ru, such as Shegir, Qanly, Atyghai, Besterek and Zhaghalbaily, I revealed a compelling form of hybridity, in which there is a movement from 'tribal' towards 'nation-state,' in which the celebrated tribal warriors are portrayed as Kazakh heroes, rather than emphasizing the superiority of one particular ru over all Kazakhs. Findings also suggest that the existence of alternative voices in Kazakhstan exhibits both the agency of local institutions and the presence of local agenda in regions, while their activities ultimately complement the grand narrative of the state on promoting an integral element of national identity, based on promoting Kazakh national heroes.