QUEER IS THE NEW ECO: HOW THE LOCAL QUEER (LGBTQIA+) COMMUNITY ENCOURAGES ECO-ACTIVISM IN QAZAQSTAN
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Date
2024-04-22
Authors
Kakim, Zhaniya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nazarbayev University School of Sciences and Humanities
Abstract
This research explores how the local LGBTQIA+ community encourages the development of eco-activism with the help and navigation of their marginalized queer and eco-activist identities. Studies about activism and activist research have seemingly become an integral part of the Central Asian academia, especially when it comes to politicized and taboo topics. It has been pointed out by several scholars that civil society activism movement has attracted a good deal of international fundings and has contributed to the consolidation of the non- governmental sector. Among the sub-movements, queer (LGBTQIA+) activism has drawn a lot of attention and financial resources and has managed to become more organized and influential in the broader social and political context of Qazaqstan. Scholars from the countries of the Global North evidently demonstrate how queer activism is also utilized as a tool for promoting other types of activism, including feminism, eco-activism, and decolonial activism. However, when the geography turns to Central Asia, specifically Qazaqstan, it is clear that there is a gap in understanding the relationships between the different types of activism.
Qazaqstan serves as an interesting case study because of its unique geopolitical landscape, colonial history, and modern-day economic dominance in the region. In addition, existing data suggests that local eco-activism, a marginalized type of activism, has been mediated by the international agents and narratives, with the limited involvement of the local agency. This study suggests that there is a deep correlation between Qazaqstani queer and eco types of activism, and that due to its influence, local queer activism promotes environmental sentiments especially through the lens of intersectionality and postcoloniality. Although, to an extent, biased by the authors personal history of being an activist, this study, first of its kind, also serves as a collaborative work between the researcher and activist networks, and, as a list of recommendations of applied research for both queer and eco-activists to improve the everyday activist strategies that they employ.
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Keywords
Type of access: Restricted, LGBTQIA+ activism, eco-activism, intersectionality, postcoloniality, decoloniality, Qazaqstan, Kazakhstan, Central Asia, activism, queer activism, queer
Citation
Kakim, Zh. (2024). Queer is The New Eco: How the local queer (LGBTQIA+) community encourages eco-activism in Qazaqstan. Nazarbayev University School of Sciences and Humanities