THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE’S ATTEMPTS TO CONTROL THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF THE KAZAKH PEOPLE IN THE 19TH CENTURY

Abstract

From the late 18th century onwards, the balance of power in the Eurasian region began to shift rapidly, and particularly the expansionist policies pursued by the Russian Empire toward the south and east directly affected the Muslim populations of the area. In this context, the Kazakh steppe became a strategically and socio-culturally significant region that attracted the attention of the Russian authorities. These lands were not only important in terms of geopolitics but also became a central target of imperial policies due to the distinct religious identity of the Muslim Kazakh community inhabiting them. With the spread of Islam, the Kazakhs developed a unique religious identity and cultural structure. However, this structure came under severe threat from the late 18th century onward, as Russia established military outposts, reorganized administrative systems, and attempted to bring religious leadership mechanisms under its control. During this period, it can be observed that the Russian administration implemented systematic policies aimed not only at undermining the political sovereignty of the local population but also at eliminating their religious and cultural independence. The religious policies of the Russian Empire, which constitute the primary object of inquiry in this study, had a direct impact not only on the religious life of the Kazakh people but also on their social, cultural, and educational development. Russian interference in the region’s religious institutions resulted in the marginalization of Islam from the public sphere, the subordination of religious leaders to state authority, and the erosion of religious education institutions such as madrasas. In this respect, the subject provides an important perspective for understanding the historical transformation of the Kazakh people while also offering an opportunity to conduct a comparative analysis of how similar processes unfolded across the broader Islamic world.