Islam as a symbolic element of national identity used by the nationalist ideology in the nation and state building process in post-Soviet Kazakhstan

Aydinguen A.

JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS AND IDEOLOGIES, vol.6, no.17, pp.69-83, 2007 (AHCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 6 Issue: 17
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS AND IDEOLOGIES
  • Journal Indexes: Arts and Humanities Citation Index (AHCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.69-83
  • Keywords: post-Soviet Kazakhstan, national identity construction, religion as marker of national identity, Kazak culture, RELIGION
  • Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The main intention of this article is to analyze the role of Islam in post-Soviet Kazakhstan and its utilization in the nation building and state building processes. It is argued that Islam in post-Soviet Kazakhstan is a cultural phenomenon rather than a religious one and is an important market, of national identity despite the competition of radical movements in the '' religious field.''