The horse as a symbol of cultural identity and resistance in Kazakhstan’s colonial history

G. Tokshylykova, A. Abdul Rakhmanuly, S. Assylbekuly, T. Kalibekuly, G. Askarova

Article ID: 9038
Vol 8, Issue 12, 2024

VIEWS - 24 (Abstract) 22 (PDF)

Abstract


This article examines the history of Russian colonization in Kazakhstan, focusing on identity, resistance, and independence within Russia’s neo-imperial ambitions. It addresses the socio-political barriers in postcolonial Kazakhstan due to ties with Russia and explores how the Soviet migration policies shaped Kazakhstan’s demographic and political landscape. The study outlines the phases of Russian colonization, contrasting Russian narratives of a civilizing mission with Kazakh perspectives on exploitation and cultural erasure. Using postcolonial theory, it deconstructs these narratives and reveals power dynamics. Kazakh literature and poetry are analyzed as mediums of resistance, emphasizing the horse as a symbol of cultural identity. The article concludes by discussing the post-Soviet cultural transformations and the role of literature in nation-building, highlighting the importance of reclaiming cultural symbols and myths for understanding Kazakhstan’s colonial history and postcolonial transformation.


Keywords


Russian colonization; Kazakhstan; postcolonialism; neo-imperialism; cultural identity

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i12.9038

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