The Eurasian Journal of History (EJH) is the successor to the Journal «Bulletin of Karaganda University. Series History. Philosophy», ISSN 2518-7236 (print), ISSN 2663-5100 (online), which has been published since 1996. In 2026, the Journal was renamed and migrated to a new publishing platform while maintaining its Editorial board, Aims and scope, and Double-blind peer review process. All previously published issues are available in the Journal archive. The Eurasian Journal of History is an international, peer-reviewed open access scientific journal dedicated to the rapid publication of research results in the field of history. It publishes full-length scientific articles and reviews by authors. ISSN: 3134-9102 (print), 3134-9110 (online). The Eurasian Journal of History welcomes authors and readers from around the world. Manuscripts are accepted throughout the year in the following sections: World History, History of Kazakhstan, Archaeology and Ethnology, Historical Anthropology, Historical Regional Studies and Museology, History of International Relations, Historiography and Source Studies etc. Eurasian Journal of History does not publish advertising. The journal is funded by its owner and through article processing charges (APC), ensuring transparency and editorial independence. All submitted manuscripts will be evaluated by the Editorial Board for compliance with the journal’s subject matter, the Guidelines for Authors, standards of originality and novelty, overall quality, and adherence to Publishing ethics. Articles that do not comply with the recommendations for authors may be returned to the authors without review. The Editor-in-Chief, together with the appointed members of the Editorial Board, may decide to review, reject, or request changes to the manuscript prior to review. Manuscripts that meet the requirements will be sent to independent international experts for double-blind review. Articles that have successfully passed peer review are published and distributed in open access (Gold Open Access) in accordance with the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). This license allows users to download and share the material with proper attribution, but does not permit commercial use or the creation of derivative works. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. Founder and publisher: Non-profit Limited Company “Karaganda National Research University named after E.A. Buketov”, Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Language of publications: Kazakh, Russian, English. Frequency: quarterly (4 times a year). The journal is indexed in the following systems: Crossref (Each article of the journal is assigned a Digital Object Identifier - DOI); KazCD (Kazakhstan Citation Database); RSCI (Russian Science Citation Index); Google Scholar. Eurasian Journal of History (Bulletin of Karaganda University. Series. History. Philosophy) is included in the list of publications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Order No. 1735 of December 27, 2012; Order No. 265 of March 18, 2021. The archive of journal issues before 2026 can be found on the old website https://history-philosophy-vestnik.buketov.edu.kz/history-philosophy-vestnik/issue/archive
Academician Ye.A. Buketov Karaganda University
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Social Polarization in the Kazakh Aul and the Soviet State’s Class Campaigns in the 1920s
This article examines the socio-economic dynamics of the Kazakh aul during the New Economic Policy (NEP) and the first regulatory campaigns launched by the Kazakh Regional Committee (Kazzkraikom), iden-tifying the causes of persistent stratification in rural society throughout the 1920s. It demonstrates that, whereas the shift to the NEP across the Soviet Union was accompanied by the growing importance of commodity–money relations and the emergence of market-based groups (rural hired laborers and affluent proprie-tors), these developments were less pronounced in the Kazakh aul due to the predominance of subsistence pastoralism and limited integration into commodity exchange. The study’s originality lies in treating the re-forms of the 1920s not merely as administrative campaigns but as interventions into systems of intra-communal norms, solidarity, and redistribution. By comparing official materials on household resource en-dowments, party assessments of reform outcomes, and oral testimonies recorded in field notes from the late 1950s to the early 1960s, the article shows that many transformations had limited effects: access to land and hayfields often failed to ensure economic self-reliance in the absence of livestock and implements, while the redistribution of bai property was constrained by the pressure of tradition and fears of losing communal guar-antees. As a result, polarization, marginalization, and pauperization persisted among substantial segments of the aul population until collectivization. The article draws on statistical data from the 1927 agricultural cen-sus, materials from party–Soviet meetings and reporting, as well as oral sources collected in expeditions of the Ch.Ch. Valikhanov Institute of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR and preserved in its Manuscript Collection.
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From the Qajars to the Islamic Republic: Iran’s Struggle for Autonomy
This article examines the long-term dynamics of Iranian-Russian relations by situating contemporary interactions within a broader historical framework extending from the Qajar era to the Islamic Republic. Much of the existing literature analyzes bilateral relations primarily in the context of the Pahlavi period or the post-1979 regime. By contrast, this study argues that the pattern of cooperation and tension between Tehran and Moscow reflects a recurring geopolitical strategy rooted in Iran’s historical struggle to preserve autonomy amid competing great powers. Drawing on historical analysis, the article demonstrates that Iran has consistently pursued a strategy of “negative balance,” seeking to counter the influence of dominant external powers by leveraging rivalries among them. Beginning with the Russo-Persian wars of the nineteenth century, Iran’s territorial losses and strategic vulnerability compelled its rulers to adopt pragmatic diplomatic strategies d esigned to preserve sovereignty despite structural weakness. During the Qajar period, Iran attempted to balance Russian influence by cultivating ties with Britain, while later regimes sought to offset Soviet power through closer relations with the US. After the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic articulated this approach through the doctrine of “Neither East nor West,” reinforcing a pattern of cautious engagement with competing powers rather than alignment with any single patron. Although recent developments -including arms transfers, geopolitical coordination, and shared opposition to Western influence —have prompted some observers to describe Iran and Russia as strategic partners, this article argues that their relationship remains largely transactional. Historical grievances, divergent strategic interests, limited economic integration, and mutual suspicions constrain the emergence of a durable alliance. By placing current ties within a historical trajectory, this study shows that Iran’s engagement with Russia is best understood not as a strategic partne rship but as part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining strategic autonomy in a competitive international system.
Copyright (c) 2026 Eurasian Journal of History https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
History of Medical Personnel Training in the 1970s–1990s of the 20th Century (A Case Study of Southern Kazakhstan)
This article examines the training of medical personnel and its significance for the development of the health care system in the South Kazakhstan region between 1970 and 1990. During this period, the health care system of the Kazakh SSR operated under conditions of a persistent shortage of qualified medical specialists, which had a substantial impact on the quality and accessibility of medical services, particularly in rural and peripheral areas. In this context, personnel policy and the system of professional training for medical workers became one of the key instruments of state strategy in the field of public health. The article analyzes the expansion of the network of medical educational institutions, the development of specialization and postgraduate training, and the institutional strengthening of medical institutes as the primary mechanisms for overcoming staffing shortages. The study demonstrates that the chronic lack of medical personnel stimulated the a ctive development of educational infrastructure in major regional centers, which contributed to a steady increase in the number of physicians and mid-level medical staff, the diversification of medical specialties, and improved access to medical care. Particular attention is given to the role of specialized areas of medical practice, including pharmaceutical education and neurosurgical services, which reflected the transition of the health care system from an extensive model of development to a more differentiated and professionally oriented structure. The article concludes that the system of medical personnel training formed during the Soviet period created a stable institutional and human-capital foundation for the further development of regional health care. Despite the transformational processes and challenges of the post-Soviet period, the professional traditions, educational models, and workforce potential established during the 1970s –1990s continue to exert a significant influence on the contemporary health care system of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The findings expand the historiography of the issue and underscore the importance of historical experience in the formulation of effective personnel policies in the health care sector.
Civic Values in History Education: A Theoretical and Methodological Analysis of Western Concepts
The article is devoted to a theoretical and methodological analysis of foreign approaches to understanding civic values within the system of historical education. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing role of the value-based dimension in educational practices under the conditions of globalization, cultural pluralism, and the transformation of models of citizenship in contemporary society. In this context, historical education is increasingly viewed not only as a field for transmitting knowledge about the past, but also as a space for the formation of civic identity, the development of a critical attitude toward social experience, and readiness for participation in public life. The article examines the main theoretical directions within the foreign scholarly tradition in which civic values are interpreted as a significant category of historical education. The analysis encompasses liberal-democratic, republican, critical-theoretical, multicultural, and competence-based models that reflect different understandings of the relationship between historical knowledge, civic education, and educational practice. Particular attention is paid to the differences between normative and critical approaches to the formation of civic values, as well as to the ways in which these values are co nceptually integrated into the content and methods of history teaching. It is demonstrated that contemporary foreign theories show a tendency to move away from rigidly prescribed value frameworks in favor of developing historical thinking, reflexivity, the ability to interpret the past, and participation in public discourse. Civic values are increasingly understood not as a set of predetermined norms, but as the outcome of learners’ meaningful engagement with historical narratives, sources, and social contexts. The article substantiates the position that civic values in historical education function primarily as a methodological guideline influencing the selection of content, the structure of curricula, and pedagogical strategies. The authors emphasize the i mportance of critically reflecting on foreign experience and adapting it to national educational contexts, considering the risks of ideological instrumentalization of historical knowledge.
The Transformation of Traditional Kazakh Society in the Early Twentieth Century: Socio-Cultural Aspects
The article is devoted to an analysis of the socio-cultural dimension of the transformation of Kazakh society in the early twentieth century — a period characterized by intensive modernization processes and the emergence of new forms of public consciousness. As the Kazakh steppe was incorporated into the administrative, economic, and cultural space of the Russian Empire, the traditional system of social relations and values underwent significant changes. The study pays particular attention to transformations in the spheres of culture, education, identity, and public thought, which reflect the transition from a traditional social model to a modernized form of social organization. The authors examine the transformation of clan and tribal identity, the evolution of mechanisms of socialization, and the changing role of traditional institutions in the context of the spread of written culture and the growth of educational attainment. The article analyzes the influence of the Russian-Kazakh educational system, the activities of Muslim educational institutions, and the reformist ideas of the Kazakh intelligentsia on the formation of a new cultural space. It is demonstrated that education and enlightenment functioned as key instruments of social modernization and of interpreting cultural change. Special attention is given to the analysis of publicist writings and periodical press of the early twentieth century, where debates on the paths of Kazakh societal development, the role of the national language, and the relationship between traditional values and modernizing orientations were articulated. These sources make it possible to identify the processes of the formation of national self-consciousness and the emergence of a new social identity based not on clan affiliation but on cultural and national characteristics. The article concludes that the socio-cultural transformation of Kazakh society in the early twentieth century was complex and contradictory in nature, combining elements of tradition and modernization. This period laid the foundations for subsequent socio-cultural changes and played a significant role in shaping Kazakh national identity in the decades that followed.
The Role of Local Authorities in Implementing the Confiscation of Bai Households in the Petropavl District in 1928
This article examines the role of local authorities in the implementation of the 1928 campaign to confiscate the property of wealthy Kazakh households (bais) in the Petropavl District. The campaign, initiated by the Soviet leadership, was formally aimed at dismantling the “remnants of feudalism” and promoting the Sovietization of the Kazakh aul (traditional rural community). However, as this study demonstrates, it served broader political purposes, acting as a foundational element in the expansion of state control and repression in rural Kazakhstan. Drawing on previously underutilized archival materials from national and regional archives, as well as documentation from the State Commission for the Full Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repressions, the authors reconstruct the mechanics of this policy at the regional level. The research reveals that local authorities did not merely carry out central orders but adapted and expanded them. This included the artificial merging of extended family households, falsification of social statuses, and arbitrary reclassification of communities to meet confiscation quotas. The analysis also shows that the promised redistri bution of confiscated livestock and property to poor peasants had limited effect. A significant share of the as sets was absorbed by collective farms or used to settle state arrears. The findings challenge the notion that the campaign was a genuine tool of social justice. Instead, it is argued that the confiscation campaign was a polit ically motivated operation designed to eliminate traditional elites, consolidate ideological control, and prepare the groundwork for forced collectivization. The article contributes to the broader historiography of Soviet repression by offering a regionally grounded and source-rich case study of early Stalinist transformations in Kazakhstan.
The Organization of the Russian Judicial System in the Middle Kazakh Zhuz in the 1820s–1860s
The scientific novelty of the study lies in a comprehensive analysis of the formation and development of the Russian judicial system during its adaptation to the cultural, legal, and economic peculiarities of the popula tion of the Kazakh steppe. The imperial authorities viewed justice as an important factor in the process of in tegrating territories into the Russian state. Imperial legislators sought to ensure adequate conditions for access to justice for all groups of subjects, taking into account the ethnic, cultural, and class diversity of the popula tion in each region. The author analyzed the circumstances of the formation, reform, and development of the Russian system of justice in the territory of the Kazakh tribes of the Middle Zhuz in the 1820s–1860s. The article substantiates the idea that the introduction of judicial and legal institutions was a key direction of state reforms in the Middle Kazakh Zhuz, recognized as an administrative part of the macro-region of Western Siberia. According to the author, the organization of the judicial system was aimed at strengthening the authority of the imperial state and establishing a new legal order in order to end inter-tribal conflicts and maintain socio-political stability. The author examined the evolution of the jurisdiction of local judicial bodies, the process of transforming common law courts into a new network and making them an integral part of the imperial judicial system. The author examined the evolution of the jurisdiction of local judicial authorities, the process of transforming common law courts into a new network and making them an integral part of the imperial judicial system. The author concludes that the combination of different types of courts operating in the Middle Kazakh Zhuz contributed to the creation of conditions for the successful integration of its population into the system of Russian social relations and interactions.
Korean Independence Activist Kim Kyung — Cheon: a Biographical Narrative
The article reconstructs the biography of Kim Kyung-cheon (김경천, 1888–1942), a Korean military and public figure, with a focus on his role in the anti-Japanese resistance, the history of Korean emigration, and the history of the Korean diaspora in the USSR and the Republic of Kazakhstan. Drawing on a wide range of sources — archival documents, diaries and memoirs of contemporaries, archival materials, as well as scholarly publications by Korean and Kazakhstani researchers — the study analyzes Kim Kyung-cheon’s participation in the formation of Korean partisan units in the Russian Far East, his interactions with Soviet authorities, and his tragic death in the GULAG. The novelty of the research lies in its narrative-biographical and transnational approach: Kim Kyung-cheon’s personality is examined as a point of intersection of the histories of Korea, Kazakhstan, and Russia, reflecting specific features of Soviet state policies toward certain national minorities. The study employs historiographical analysis, the narrative method, the biographical approach, microhistory, and a transnational perspective, which together make it possible to identify links between the protagonist’s personal experience and the broader political context of the era. The findings are significant for historical scholarship, as they contribute to a deeper understanding of interethnic relations and to a rethinking of memory regarding repression and anti-colonial movements across the post-Soviet space.
Academician E.A. Buketov and “History Through the Eyes of a Poet”. 2025: The 100th Anniversary of E.A. Buketov and the 50th Anniversary of O.O. Suleimenov’s Book “Az i Ya”
In 2025, Kazakhstan celebrates two important dates: the 100th anniversary of the birth of Academician Evney Arstanovich Buketov and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Olzhas Suleimenov’s book “Az i Ya”. The study of this topic allows us to identify the connection between two outstanding figures of Kazakhstani science and culture. The main goal of the research is to introduce into scientific circulation the first published letter from E.A. Buketov to O.O. Suleimenov dated February 16, 1976. The article examines the circumstanc es of writing the letter, its content and historical significance in the context of the discussion around the book “Az i Ya”. The authors analyze the multifaceted nature of E.A. Buketov’s scientific and literary heritage, his contribution to the development of chemical-metallurgical science and higher education in Kazakhstan. The significance of the academician’s correspondence with representatives of scientific and creative intelligentsia is determined.
Police Supervision of the Activities of the Kazakh Intelligentsia and Public Patronage in the Publishing Sphere (1913-1917)
This article examines the police supervision of the activities of the Orenburg publishing association “Azamat”, formed by representatives of the Kazakh national intelligentsia under the leadership of A. Baitursynov and M. Dulatov. This association created a stable system of voluntary public donations, which contributed to the implementation of the ideological principles of the Alash movement, which were especially active during the First World War and on the eve of the February Revolution of 1917 in the Russian Empire. This circumstance could not but cause concern to the tsarist supervisory authorities, since patronage in the steppe saved the Kazakh press from ruin due to fines and sanctions. For the first time, archival materials from the office of the Orenburg Governor are being introduced into scientific circulation, containing information on police surveillance measures for A. Baitursynov, M. Dulatov and A. Bukeikhanov, as well as demonstrat ing ways for the tsarist administration to counter the activities of the Azamat partnership, whose main task was to provide financial support to the newspaper Kazak. Police supervision of the Azamat partnership in cluded not only monitoring publications and the content of printed materials, but also monitoring sources of funding, subscribers, correspondence, personal connections of editors and patrons. This surveillance system reflected the desire of the imperial administration to prevent the press from becoming an instrument of national consolidation. A study of the documents of the supervisory authorities allows us to conclude that the policy of the tsarist administration towards publishing companies was repressive and preventive in nature, aimed at curbing the growth of national identity. Special attention is paid to the participation of wealthy Kazakhs in supporting a legal periodical, which allowed the editorial office to publish the newspaper in the Kazakh language from 1913 until the February Revolution of 1917.
The Nomadic Population of the Steppe Region during the Civil Confrontation: Everyday Practices and Survival Strategies (1918 — early 1920s)
The article examines the everyday practices and survival strategies of the Kazakh nomadic population of the Steppe Region under the conditions of the Civil confrontation from 1918 to the early 1920s. The aim of the study is to identify the adaptive mechanisms that ensured the preservation of economic and social stability of aul communities during a period of violence, economic crisis, and administrative instability. The study identi fies key survival strategies, including the preservation of livestock husbandry, spatial mobility, economic and fiscal maneuvering, refusal to participate in armed confrontation, and the legal documentation of incurred losses. Regional specificities of these strategies are revealed: in the agrarian districts of Akmola Oblast, practices of food redistribution and commodity exchange predominated, whereas in the livestock-oriented areas of Semipalatinsk Oblast, survival strategies were concentrated on preserving livestock numbers as the basis of subsistence. It is concluded that the everyday practices of the nomadic population were transformed into a stable system of adaptive strategies that made it possible to mitigate the destructive impact of the crisis and preserve the basic elements of the traditional way of life under conditions of civil confrontation.
History of the Alash Movement in the Research of Hasan Oraltay
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.
The Purge of the Party and State Apparatus of the Karaganda Region in 1929–1933 as a Component of Political Repressions
In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Soviet Union entered a period of profound political and social trans formation. The Karaganda region, which was actively developing as an industrial center, became a stage for mass political repression, including purges of the state and party apparatus. These measures were seen as a means of tightening control, eliminating opposition, and “cleansing” the party of “unreliable elements.” This article investigates the party purges of 1929–1933 in the region based on materials from the State Archive of the Karaganda Region (GAKO), including regulatory documents, minutes of inspection commission meet ings, and lists of those expelled from the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks). The study examines cases of expulsion for anti-Soviet activities, connections with counter-revolutionary elements, disciplinary viola tions, and breaches of socialist ideology. At the same time, the limited availability of archival sources—many of which were classified for decades and only recently became accessible to researchers—prevents a full un derstanding of the purge mechanisms and the distinctions and interconnections between their various stages.
The Development of Pedagogical Education in the Semipalatinsk Region in the 1920s: Problems and Achievements of the Kazakh Pedagogical College
The article presents formation and activity of Semipalatinsk Kazakh Pedagogical College in the 1920s, which played a key role in the training of Kazakh youth in the early years of the formation of Soviet power. The study analyzes the history of the founding of the pedagogical college, its educational programs and its role in the training of teaching staff for schools in the region. The features of the historical context, in which the training of teaching staff was conducted are determined, as well as the main difficulties faced by college in the process of training and educating future teachers, such as lack of financial resources, problems with the provision of educational materials, lack of personnel and technical equipment. The article considers key aspects of the educational process, including language policy, the level of education and qualification of teachers, it analyzes the national and age composition of students. Based on archival materials, data on the number of students and teaching staff, the list of subjects taught, and the organization of production practices are presented. Special attention is paid to the state of the educational institutions’ infrastructure, including dormitories and a library. In addition, the article analyzes innovations in educational approaches, such as the use of laboratory and guided learning methods. The article also highlights the role and contribution of graduates who later became representatives of the country’s national intelligentsia. Thus, the Kazakh Pedagogical College has become an important link in the formation of educational personnel not only for the Semipalatinsk region, but also for the whole republic.
The Settlement Process of Ethnic Kazakhs in Karaganda Region (1991-2001)
This article examines the ethnic repatriation policy implemented in the Republic of Kazakhstan during the first decade following the country’s independence, using the Karaganda region as a case study. At the beginning of the 1990s, Kazakhstan experienced large-scale migration processes resulting from the socio-demographic crisis, the reconfiguration of state borders, and transformations in interethnic relations across the post-Soviet space. A key component of these processes was the return of ethnic Kazakhs from abroad to their historical homeland. The study analyzes the dynamics of migration quotas, the geography of settlement, the socio-economic adaptation of repatriates, and the specific procedures for acquiring legal status between 1991 and 2001. Based on archival documents and official statistical data, the research identifies the institutional formation of repatriation policy, its regional implementation mechanisms, and its social implications. The findings demonstrate that the majority of ethnic Kazakhs arriving in the Karaganda region were repatriates from Mongolia, while those from the CIS countries predominantly migrated independently and without state quotas. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive historical approach, viewing repatriates’ settlement and adaptation as a complex socio-historical process and systematically analyzing the specific features of regional migration policy for the first time. The results indicate that the effectiveness of repatriation policy was directly dependent on the quality of the country’s social infrastructure, economic conditions, and legal frameworks. The examination of archival sources and foreign scholarly works also made it possible to identify the comparative advantages of Kazakhstan’s repatriation experience in relation to international practices. The findings have practical relevance for enhancing Kazakhstan’s current migration policy, developing effective mechanisms for the social adaptation of repatriates, and planning regional ethno-demographic development strategies.
Historical and Cultural Analysis of Sites of Traumatic Memory in the Pavlodar Irtysh Region
The article examines sites of traumatic memory in the Pavlodar–Irtysh region as an important component of the region’s cultural heritage. The relevance of the study is обусловлена by the need for scholarly reflection on complex and tragic chapters of history, including political repression, famine, deportations, and closely related social processes, within the context of shaping national identity and restoring historical justice. In this regard, the aim of the study is to identify and analyze the key sites of traumatic memory in the Pavlodar– Irtysh region, as well as to determine their role in preserving historical memory and transmitting it to future generations in contemporary society. The research findings demonstrate that sites of traumatic memory in the region are not limited to officially established monuments. They are also manifested as symbolic loci of memory embedded in oral traditions, local practices, and various forms of sacralization of space. These sites are perceived by local residents as significant markers of collective experience, contributing to the understanding of the past and to the formation of social cohesion and shared values, particularly among young people. In conclusion, the study argues that the research and preservation of sites of traumatic memory in the Pavlodar–Irtysh region make a substantial contribution to strengthening historical consciousness, consolidating national identity, and ensuring the continuity of cultural memory. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying its findings in research and educational activities, as well as in the development of programs aimed at preserving and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of the region.
Specialized Vocational Education in Southern Kazakhstan in the 1920s–1940s as a Factor of Regional Modernization
In the article, the authors examine the process of formation and development of the system of specialized vocational education in Southern Kazakhstan in the 1920s–1940s as an important element of regional modernization during the Soviet period. Based on archival materials from the Central State Archive of the Republic of Kazakhstan, documents of party-administrative bodies, regulatory legal acts, and published statistical data of the interwar period, the institutional changes accompanying the establishment and expansion of a network of technical schools, factory apprenticeship schools, agricultural and other vocational institutions are analyzed. The authors consider the evolution of the regulatory framework, the mechanisms of organizational formation of the system, and the specific features of the development of its material and technical infrastructure. It is shown that in the 1920s the development of vocational education took place under conditions of limited resources, weak mechanization, and high pressure on educational facilities and equipment. The processes of institutional integration of the regional educational network into the centralized system of governance subordinate to the bodies of public education and economic planning are analyzed. It is established that the transition to industrialization and collectivization in the late 1920s led to the institutional reorganization of vocational schools, their transformation into technical schools, and the expansion of the factory apprenticeship system. The authors regard the 1930s as a stage of mobilization-industrial development of the system, characterized by the strengthening of links between personnel training and the production sector and by the increasing complexity of professional specialization. It is concluded that specialized vocational education 1920-1940 acted as a structure-forming factor of regional modernization, providing institutional and personnel support for agrarian mechanization and industrial construction and contributing to the transformation of the social structure of Southern Kazakhstan.
Western European and Kazakhstani Traditions of Studying the History of Everyday Life: A Comparative Analysis
The article is devoted to a comparative analysis of Western European and Kazakhstani traditions of studying the history of everyday life in the context of contemporary historical scholarship. The history of everyday life is considered an important field of historical knowledge focused on the study of human everyday experience, regularly repeated social practices, and forms of social interaction. For a long time, these aspects remained on the periphery of historical research. The article examines the specific features of the formation of Western European and Kazakhstani research traditions within the intellectual, socio-political, and historiographical contexts of their development. It is shown that the Western European tradition of studying everyday life emerged in the second half of the twentieth century within the framework of social and anthropological history and is characterized by a high level of theoretical reflection, an interdisciplinary approach, and methodological pluralism. In Western European studies, mentalities, symbolic structures, and stable everyday practices are analyzed in the context of long-term historical processes. The Kazakhstani tradition of researching everyday life has been developing mainly in the post-Soviet period and is currently at a formative stage. Its development has been largely shaped by the legacy of Soviet historiography, as well as by the process of adopting theoretical and methodological models developed in Western European historical science. The article notes that Kazakhstani studies are primarily oriented toward empirical material, pay significant attention to social transformations, and focus on the study of crisis and transitional periods in history. The comparative analysis allows the authors to identify not only methodological differences between the Western European and Kazakhstani traditions of studying everyday life, but also common trends in their development under conditions of the internationalization of historical knowledge.
The Golden Horde in Kazakhstan’s Commemorative Policy
This article examines historical memory as a key resource in shaping national identity and state legitimacy, focusing on the continuity between the Kazakhs and the Ulus of Jochi (Golden Horde). The theoretical section shows that collective memory is closely connected with nation, nationalism, and identity. Drawing on the works of E. Smith, A. Assmann, and social psychology, memory is defined as a “mnemonic resource” that strengthens group solidarity, values, and norms, while also carrying the potential for conflict in cases of competing interpretations of the past. The article then reviews the historiography of Kazakh–Golden Horde continuity. Pre-revolutionary scholarship largely recognized a direct historical and ethnocultural link between the Kazakhs and the Horde. In the early Soviet period, scholars sought to interpret Kazakh ethnogenesis within the context of the uluses of Jochi and Chagatai; however, from the 1930s–1940s this approach was labeled “nationalist” and removed from official historiography. Soviet historical science subsequently denied a direct Kazakh–Golden Horde connection, asserting the White Horde as the sole predecessor of the Kazakh Khanate. Special attention is given to contemporary memory politics, in which the Ulus of Jochi is presented not as an object of ethnic “privatization” but as a shared heritage of the Turkic peoples, with Kazakhstan as a key historical space. This approach emphasizes a civilizational perspective, rejects the instrumentalization of “historical traumas,” and promotes an integrative model of historical knowledge. The conclusion formulates the main elements of the contemporary interpretation: the formation of Kazakh ethnicity and culture within the Ulus of Jochi, recognition of the Golden Horde as the apex of Great Steppe statehood, its decisive impact on Central Eurasian political, cultural, and linguistic processes, and acknowledgment of the Kazakhs and other Turkic peoples as its joint heirs.
On the Participation of Kazakhstani Authors in the Creation of the USSR Anthem
The author believes that the history of the Great Patriotic War and the civil consolidation of the multinational Soviet society is an important part of the historical memory of the peoples of the former USSR and serves as an example of their heroic cooperation in the fight against the common enemy — fascism and Nazism. The article highlights the main events related to the creation of the USSR national anthem in 1943. The data on the participation of representatives of different Union republics in the creation of the anthem text, as well as on translators of texts by Kazakhstan authors, are presented. For the first time, the texts of prominent Kazakh-stan’s poets and writers H. Zhumaliev, A. Tazhibayev and A. Tokmagambetov, which were submitted to the All-Union competition, were being published. It was found that the refrain of almost all the texts submitted to the special Commission was the social unity and ethno-cultural solidarity of the citizens of the USSR, while the images included in the text of the anthems reflected the basic meanings and values embedded in the tradi-tional values of the peoples of the USSR and the principles of formation of public consciousness and consoli-dating foundations of culture transmitted by the state. The conclusion is made about the active and positive role of the Kazakh artistic intelligentsia in the solidarity work of the elite of the literary and musical commu-nities of the Soviet Union, aimed at forming and strengthening the unity of a multinational society, increasing the prestige of the culture of the Kazakh SSR. The meaning, semantic load and context of the creation of texts for the All-Union anthem in the conditions of the Great Patriotic War are shown.
On the 1916 Uprising in the Astrakhan, Steppe, and Turkestan Governorates
This article is about the 1916 uprising that swept through the southeastern governorates of the Russian Empire and became the largest uprising during the period when these regions were part of the empire. It examines the general context in which the events unfolded, the causes of the uprising, its main events, and consequences. An attempt is made to synthesize the available source and research data through the prism of the author’s vision of the processes. The novelty is defined as an attempt to move away from one-sided assessments of the events of the summer of 1916 and spring of 1917, as well as an attempt to reassess the changes in the socio-demographic composition of the population on the eve of the uprising and its results, including in the format of trials not only of the rebels, but also of those who participated in the suppression of its hotbeds in violation of the legal norms existing at that time. The events of the uprising fit into the global context — World War I, the confrontation between the Entente and the Quadruple Alliance, and the state context, including the formation of a new political system that gradually included representatives of national elites in all-Russian political processes, including the emergence and activities of political parties, inclusion in parliamentary activities, and the emergence of autonomist movements in the national peripheries. The differences in the approaches of rebels in various centers of uprising are analyzed, as well as the variability of the response of the government and representatives of the regional administration (provincial and regional) to the events that took place: from armed confrontation to compromise interaction.
On the Issue of Female Inmates in Gulag Camps in the 1930s–early 1950s: Pregnant Women, their Numbers and Conditions of Detention
The aim of this article is to study the female contingent in the Gulag correctional labour camps, focusing on the number and conditions of detention of pregnant women in the 1930s until the 1953 amnesty of prisoners. The work conducts a comparative analysis of the total number of female prisoners and pregnant women in the Gulag and Karlag camps based on available archival statistical data. The article is based on materials from the State Archives of the Russian Federation (fund R-9414 — Main Directorate of Places of Imprisonment (Gulag) of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs (1930-1960)), the Archive of the Committee for Legal Statistics and Special Records of the General Prosecutor’s Office for the Karaganda Region (fund 16 — Karaganda Correctional Labour Camp (Karlag)) and published sources on the history of the Gulag. These are mainly documents of a directive, administrative, reporting, and reference nature from the records of the Gulag and its departments, in particular the sanitary department. Taken together, all these documents characterise the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the process of the stay of the female contingent as a whole and pregnant women in the CLC.