National Territory and the Reconstruction of History in Kazakhstan

This paper examines efforts to recreate the history of Kazakhstan for the purpose of bolstering that newly independent state's external and internal legitimacy. It first explores the interrelationship between nationalism and territory, and then proceeds to a discussion of the constructed historical linkages between the titular community and its current territory of residence. Included in the study is a brief review of counterhegemonic historiographies and also of relevant political conditions. Anchored in a theoretical framework, the paper incorporates population statistics as well as information obtained during interviews in Almaty in 2001. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: H10, R23, Z13. 2 figures, 1 table, 92 references.