History of the Alash Movement in the Research of Hasan Oraltay

Abstract

This article is devoted to the analysis of the scientific and publicistic legacy of Hasan Oraltay, a prominent representative of the Kazakh diaspora, regarding the history of the Alash national liberation movement. The relevance of the study is determined by the necessity to introduce into scientific circulation alternative histo riographical sources that countered the distortion of national history under the Soviet totalitarian system and ideological censorship. The authors comprehensively examine Hasan Oraltay’s activities at Radio Azattyk (Munich) and his works published in Turkey and Europe within the context of the ideological confrontation of the Cold War era. The research methods employ comparative-historical, problem-chronological methods, and content analysis. This approach enabled the identification of fundamental contradictions between official Soviet historiography and the diaspora narrative presented by H. Oraltay. The results of the study reveal H. Oraltay’s specific contributions to Alash studies: relying on European archives (Helsinki, London), hede bunked the Soviet myth regarding the alleged hostility between the “Aiqap” magazine and the “Qazaq” newspaper, demonstrated the continuity between the Alash Orda government and the Turkestan (Kokand) Autonomy, and promoted the legacy of repressed intellectuals like Magzhan Zhumabayev internationally. Furthermore, the article highlights his role in integrating the Alash topic into Western academia through publications in the prestigious “Central Asian Survey” journal. The article concludes that Hasan Oraltay’s works serve not merely as historical records but as a significant mechanism for intellectual decolonization and the preservation of national memory. His research provides a crucial resource for modern Kazakhstani historiog raphy, facilitating an objective understanding of the 20th-century political struggle of the national intelligent sia and bridging the gaps created by Soviet-era historical amnesia.