The Role of Religion in the Identity of Kazakhstan's Cossacks: History and Narratives

Abstract

The Republic of Kazakhstan is characterized by a highly diverse confessional composition. Historical factors contributed to this. The earliest mentions of Cossacks in the territory of present Kazakhstan date to the second half of the 16th century. They included border military groups, free Cossacks, fugitives, and harvesters. Organized migration of Cossacks began in the 17th and 18th centuries. Later, the Ural, Orenburg, Semirechye, and Siberian Cossack Hosts were formed. Fortifications and outposts were built. Cossacks were used as a military border force and an instrument of control over residents. All these processes impacted the centuries-old way of life of the indigenous Kazakh population. At present, a wide range of Cossack organizations operate in our country. The Cossacks as an ethnic group of people, are active actors in public life. Cossack organizations in Kazakhstan represent significant diversity. Their ethnographic origins are heterogeneous. Scholars have various approaches to defining their identity. As this study has shown, existing Cossack communities lack internal cohesion, despite ongoing efforts toward their consolidation. Some Cossack associations are active members of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan, while others operate outside the Assembly. Moreover, religious identity is a key factor in the Cossack national identity. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to consider the Cossack organizations of Kazakhstan, their identity, and contemporary narratives.