The Transformation Of The Kazakh Identity

“…In the Kazakh case, the historical contradiction between the state policies and nomadic society resulted in massive population loss of nomadic Kazakhs in 1930s. The nomadic economy and social order were destroyed. Although nomadic Kazakhs showed great resistance to the collectivization process much more than other periods, their resistance eventually failed. In this failure, both the military power of the Soviet state and the 19th century destruction of the Kazakh zhuzes and the asabiyyah based on nomadism played a major role. Therefore, the regional and fragmented struggle of the Kazakhs did not turn into a mass resistance. This case, which was the last widespread war between the nomadic and settled world in recent history, resulted in the destruction of the whole nomadic life of the “Asian half-man half-horse” in Kazakhstan.”