BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

ISLAM AND CENTRAL ASIA: A CASE STUDY OF KAZAKHSTAN

Author: Manish Jha

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/ BIISSj1999v20n2a3

ABSTRACT

There has been a growing apprehension about the resurgence of Islam across the globe and more especially, in the Central Asian region. The concepts of "Islamic fundamentalism", "Islamic: resurgence" and "Islamic: revival" etc. arc the floating annotations reflecting the society and polity of Central Asian Republics. This paper is an attempt at understanding the nature of Islamic revival in the region. The author argues that Islam has been mild. tolerant. modernist and less dogmatic in its outlook because of the prevalent typical tribal and nomadic societal pattern of the region. h is also argued that Islam is serving the interest of newly growing ethno-cultural feelings of these Republics. Thus. Islam may be viewed as an ethnic marker. Having discussed the nature and extent of Islamic influence in the region. the paper attempts at examining Islam in post-Soviet Kazakhstan and its impact on the Republic's society. polity and institutions. An effort has also been made to investigate as to how Islam has been dealt with along the course of nation-building process of post-Soviet Kazakhstan