Islam and Identity in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan: History and Modernity

This talk explores the historical and contemporary role of Islam in shaping Kazakh and Uzbek identities. It begins with the early Islamization of Central Asia and the formation of the ethnonyms "Kazakh" and "Uzbek." The presentation then examines key historical disruptions that influenced religious life and institutions. It analyzes post-Soviet religious policies and the evolving character of religiosity in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan today.

RSVP here.

Aikerim Altaikyzy holds a Ph.D. in Religious Studies and is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science, and Religious Studies under the Science Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan. She has participated in collaborative research teams in the fields of Islamic and religious studies and has also led a three-year research project examining the influence of Islamic values on the formation of ecological consciousness and culture. Her academic interests include Islam in Central Asia, the relationship between Islamic and secular values in Kazakhstan, and religious education.

As a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies (CREEES), Altaikyzy is focusing on the role of Islam in shaping identity in post-Soviet Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Through this appointment, she aims to gain high-level international research experience, further develop her professional skills, and study the scholarly work of American academics in her field.