Realigning Religion and Power in Central Asia: Islam, Nation-State and (Post)Socialism

Islam in Kazakhstan: a survey of contemporary trends and sources of securitization

“…The Soviet encoding of religious identities through nationality policies was an important factor in fostering and sustaining 'folklorized' forms of Islam (Hann andPelkmans 2009, p. 1524). In the post-Soviet context, the Kazakh religion has retained a degree of 'folkorization' and an enduring impact of local indigenous traditions on Islam.…”

“…Being Kazakh is being Muslim: ethnic and religious identification One of the defining qualities of Islam in Kazakhstan is its association with ethnic identity and national traditions rather than Islamic theory and praxis (Hann andPelkmans 2009, p. 1524). For Kazakhs, ethnic identity is a Muslim one; being Kazakh means being Muslim.…”

‘There Can Be No Other Sun in the Sky’: Political Myth, Spirituality and Legitimacy in Contemporary Kazakhstan

“…a starkly contrasting [pattern religious identity? -in 1970, 80% of the native Kazakh and Kyrgyz populations actually identified themselves as Muslim (Hann &and Pelkmans 2009: 1524. Incidentally, We shall return to the reasons for this difference below, but at this point suffice it to say that the percentage roportions corresponds well to the post-independence the numbers that we see today.…”

“…A, as after the gaining of independence as eeach of them soon embarked on a highly publicized pilgrimages to Mecckka [hajj?, and all five quickly moved to create their own national organizations ofor Islamic clergy [ [muftiyates]? after the gaining of independence (Hann & Pelkmans 2009: 1525.…”

Governing Islam in Plural Societies: Religious Freedom, State Neutrality and Traditional Heritage

“…44 Nationalization-cum-etatization often served state interests in using faith at the service of concrete political agendas. 45 Mastering clear criteria for inclusion and exclusion was especially pertinent in light of the centralized legacy of former Communist regimes. Communist states, to a lesser or greater extent, had created a highly centralized state machinery in order to appropriate all spheres of life, including public religions and intimate spheres of personal piety.…”