Islam in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan: Experiencing Public Revival of Islam through Institutionalisation

Abstract

In the years following independence, Kazakhstan witnessed a re-emergence of religious phenomenon, particularly in the form of ‘Islamic revival,’ generating a kind of post-Soviet ‘Islamic extremism’ narrative. The discussions, describing Islamic revival as a ‘security concern’ and ‘potential threat’ to Kazakhstan’s secular objectives have deluged the academic, political, and policy discourse. Nevertheless, the question essential to contextualise the whole debate is whether the nature of ‘Islamic revival’ does follow the prescriptive conditions as anticipated by the privatisation of religion theory, reducing the stimulus of religion to an individual’s ‘private matter’ or whether it has become a social function, affecting people’s inspirations and aspirations both at the individual and collective level. To analyse this question methodologically, the study discusses theoretical formulations that are relevant to understanding the nature and scope of Islamic revival in the post-Soviet Kazakh context. Then, the study examines the practical impact of Islamic revival and makes reference to an institutionalization of Islam through religious, economic and political institutions. The study argues, after independence, despite the secular and authoritarian nature of the government, ‘Islamic revival’ has become an institutionalised phenomenon and its appearance and social function in the public space has increased rather than decreased.