Political views and tribal structure of Qazaq society under the conditions of Sovietization from 1917 to 1920
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69567/3007-0236.2025.1.9.52Keywords:
Qazaqs, Alash Orda, Soviet power, revolution, Sovietization, Bolsheviks, Qazaq tribesAbstract
The article examines the individual biographies of Qazaq political figures of the early 20th century and forms of political activity in Qazaq society from 1917 to 1920. The study period is divided into five stages, starting with the 1917 February Revolution and ending with the Sovietization of the Qazaq Steppe after the Civil War. The motives of Qazaq political figures in relation to the Soviet or Bolshevik model of state structure are specific for each stage. The Qazaq leaders' political views, which have been reconstructed from various disparate and diverse sources, have either supported or rejected the new ideology and did not remain constant; their positions and views changed under the influence of the turbulent revolutionary era. The Qazaq Steppe's revolutionary events began with only one Qazaq Bolshevik, Alibi Dzhangildin. However, by 1921, their number had grown to 1588. The author of the article has attempted to find out the motives that prompted the Qazaqs to link their activities with the Soviets and become communists. In Soviet Qazaqstani historiography, such reasons often included origins "from the lower classes", dissatisfaction with social inequality, and others, without considering the traditional nature of Qazaq society. Meanwhile, the geographical distribution and tribal structure of Qazaq society were among the important factors influencing the political choice of the Qazaq intelligentsia. The difficulty in determining the tribal affiliation of Qazaq political figures was due to the limited documentary base, since this information was not usually mentioned and remained outside the Russian archives. Available information suggests that the Qazaqs who went over to the side of the Soviet government or joined the Bolshevik Party in the period from 1917 to 1918 were previously excluded from the Qazaq national movement, which was dominated by two main tribes, and belonged to weaker or smaller tribes and clans. This study traces the composition of these heterogeneous groups
References
Amanzholova, D. 1994. Kazahskij avtonomizm i Rossija [Qazaq Autonomy and Russia). Moscow: Rossiya Molodaya (in Russian).
Amanzholova, D. 2004. Kazahskaja avtonomija: ot zamysla nacionalov k samoopredeleniju po-sovetski [Qazaq Autonomy: From the Nationalists' Concept to Soviet-Style Self-Determination). In: Acta Slavica Iaponica. Hokkaïdo: Hokkaïdo University, 21, 115–143 (in Russian).
Anderson, Benedict. 2009. Les Bannières de la révolte. Paris: La Découverte (in French).
Aqqulyuly, Sultankhan (ed.). 1995. Alikhan Bokeykhan. Selected. Almaty: Qazaq Encyclopedia (in Qazaq; Russian).
Baiqadamova, Kunimzhan. 2009. Bajqadamovtar auleti: derekti hikajat [Baiqadamov Family: documentary story). Almaty: Bilim (in Qazaq).
Beisembaev, S. (ed.). 1974. Amangel'dy Imanov. Stat'i, dokumenty, materialy [Amangeldy Imanov. Articles, Documents, Materials). Compiled by: M.Qozybaev, P.Pakhmurny. Almaty: Qazaqstan (in Russian).
Beisembiev, K. 1961. Idejno-politicheskie techenija v Kazahstane konca XIX – nachala XX veka [Ideological and Political Trends in Kazakhstan at the End of the 19th and Beginning of the 20th Centuries. Alma-Ata: Academy of Sciences of the Qazaq SSR (in Russian).
Beisenbayuly, Zharilqap. 1994. Qazaq shezhiresi [Qazaq Chronicle). Almaty: Atamura (in Qazaq).
Bisembaev, A. 2006. Istorija Aktjubinskoj oblasti [History of the Aqtobe region). Aqtobe: Regional Center of History, Ethnography and Archeology (in Russian).
Buttino, Marco. 2003. La rivoluzione capovolta: l’Asia centrale tra il crollo dell’Impero zarista e la formazione dell’URSS. Naples: L’ancora del mediterraneo (in French).
Eleuov, T., Inoyatov, Kh. et al. (eds.). 1963. Inostrannaja voennaja intervencija i grazhdanskaja vojna v Srednej Azii i Kazahstane [Foreign military intervention and civil war in Central Asia and Qazaqstan). Vol. 1. May 1918 – September 1919. Compiled by: A.Bagryantsev, A.Elagin et al. (From the history of the Civil War in the USSR. Documents and materials). Alma-Ata: Publishing house of the Academy of Sciences of the Qazaq SSR (in Russian).
Eleuov, T., Pakhmurny, P. (eds.). 1975. Alіbi Zhankeldin: dokumentter men materialdar [Alibi Zhankeldin: documents and materials). Compiled by: R.Golubeva, M.Baikenov, A.Mukhtarov, T.Shoyinbayev. Almaty: Qazaqstan (in Qazaq; Russian).
Erofeeva, I. 2003. Rodoslovnye kazahskih hanov i kozha [Genealogical Qazaq khans and qozha). XVIII–XIX centuries. Almaty: Print-S (in Russian).
Fedtke, Gero. 1998. Jadids, young Bukharans, communists and the Bukharan revolution: from an ideological debate in the early Soviet Union. In: Kügelgen, Anke von, Kemper, Michael, Frank, Allen J. (éds.). Muslim culture in Russia and Central Asia from the 18th to the early 20th centuries. Vol. 2: Inter-regional and inter-ethnic relations. Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag, 483–512 (in English).
Frank, Allen J. 2001. Muslim religious institutions in imperial Russia: The Islamic World of Novouzensk district and the Kazakh Inner Horde, 1780–1910. Leiden: Brill (in English).
Hallez, Xavier. 2012. Le rôle des relations tribales dans la constitution des mouvements politiques kazakhs entre 1905 et 1918. In: Ducloux, Anne, Gorshenina, Svetlana, Jarry-Omarova, Anna (éds.). Anthropologie des réseaux en Asie centrale. Paris: CNRS éditions, 89–114 (in French).
Hallez, Xavier. 2014. Du statut d’allogène à celui de citoyen soviétique: La route des Kazakhs vers une autonomie politique 1905–1920. In: Cahiers d’Asie centrale, IFEAC, 23 (in French).
Hallez, Xavier. 2014. Turar Ryskulov: the career of a Kazakh revolutionary leader during the construction of the new Soviet state, 1917–1926. In: Colloquia Humanistica, Institute of Slavic Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 (in English).
Hobsbawm, Eric J. 1972. Les bandits. Paris: Petite collection Maspero (in French).
Kulbaev, Tleu, Aitieva, Raushan. 2006. Abdrahman Ajtiev – zhizn', polnaja muzhestva i tragedii [Abdrahman Aitiev – life, full courage and tragedy). Almaty: Arys (in Russian).
Liyanov, D. 1920. Avtonomnaja Kirgizija [Autonomous Kyrgyzsiya). In: Zhizn' nacional'nostej [Life of Nationalities), 30 (87), October 1 (in Russian).
Madanov, Kh. 1994. Kishi zhuzding shezhiresi [Genealogy of the Little Horde). Almaty: Atamura (in Qazaq).
Martin, Virginia. 2010. Kazakh Chinggisids, land and political power in the nineteenth century: a case study of Syrymbet. In: Central Asian Survey, 29 (1), 79–102 (in English).
Martin, Virginia. 1997. Barïmta: Nomadic custom, imperial crime. In: Brower, Daniel R., Lazzerini Edward J. (eds.). Russia’s Orient: Imperial borderlands an peoples, 1700–1917. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 249–270 (in English).
Martynenko, N. (ed.). 1992 (1929). Alash Orda [Alash Horde). Collection of documents. Almaty: Aykap (in Russian).
Masanov, N. 2011. Kochevaja civilizacija kazahov: osnovy zhiznedejatel'nosti nomadnogo obshhestva [The nomadic civilization of the Qazaqs: the basis of the life of the nomadic society). Almaty: Print‑S (in Russian).
Mendesev, S. 1926. Moi lichnye vospominanija o mobilizacii kazahskogo naselenija na tylovye raboty v 1916 godu [My personal reminiscences about the mobilization of the Qazaq population for frontline work in 1916). In: Trudy Obshhestva izuchenija Kazahstana [Studies of the Labor Society of Qazaqstan). Qyzyl-Orda, 8 (2) (in Russian).
Mukanov, M. 1994. Qazaq zherining tarihy [History of the Qazaq land). Almaty: Atamura (in Qazaq).
Myrzagaliuli, M. 2005. 1916–1917 zhyldardagy Torgaj qazaqtarynyng koterilisi [The uprising of Torgai Qazaqs in 1916–1917). Almaty (in Qazaq).
Notes and Queries on Anthropology. 1967. Royal Anthropological Institution. London: Routledge and Paul Kegan (in English).
Nurkanov, A. 1959. Amangel'dy Imanov [Amangeldy Imanov). Alma-Ata: Qazaq State Publishing House (in Russian).
Nurpeisov, K. 1987. Stanovlenie sovetov v Kazahstane [Establishment of Soviets in Qazaqstan) (March 1917 – June 1918). Alma-Ata: Nauka (in Russian).
Nurpeisov, K. et al. (ed.). 1993. Protokoly Revoljucionnogo komiteta po upravleniju Kazahskim kraem [Protocols of the Revolutionary Committee for the Management of the Qazaq Territory) (1919–1920). Collection of Documents. Compilers: A.Buchneva, V.Grigoriev, N.Maichekenova, T.Mitropolskaya. Almaty: Gylym (in Russian).
Polyakov, Vladimir. 2013. Do menja. Krym – rodina, familija, sud'ba [Before me. Crimea – Homeland, Surname, Destiny). Memories. 2004–2012. Ch. 3. URL: http://www.historians.in.ua/index.php/en/istoriya%e2%80%91i%e2%80%91pamyat%e2%80%91vazhki%e2%80%91pitannya/710%e2%80%91vladymyr%e2%80%91poliakov%e2%80% 91do%e2%80%91menia%e2%80%91krym%e2%80%91%e2%80%91rodyna%e2%80%91familyia%e2% 80%91sudba%e2%80%91memuary%e2%80%912004%e2%80%912012%e2%80%91chast%e2%80%913 (Date of access: 03.02.2025) (in Russian).
Qaliyev, Yeltay. 2009. Valikhan Tanashev zhane Tanashevter auleti [Valikhan Tanashev and the Tanashev’s dynasty). Almaty: KIE (in Qazaq).
Qoigeldiev, M. (ed.). 2005. Alash qozgalysy [Movement of Alash). Collection of documents and materials. December 1917 – May 1920 Almaty: Alash (in Qazaq; Russian).
Qoigeldiev, M. (ed.). 2007. Qazaq ult-azattyq Qozgalysy: Qazaq siezderi [Qazaq National Liberation Movement): Vol. 4. Qazaq congresses. Almaty: El-shejire (in Qazaq; Russian).
Qoigeldiev, M. 1995. Alash qozgalysy [Movement of Alash). Almaty: Art (in Qazaq).
Seifullin, Saken. 1975. Ternistyj put' [Thorny path). Historical-memoir novel. Translation from Qazaq. Alma-Ata: Zhazushy (in Russian).
Smagulova, Svetlana (ed.). 2003. Togіsov Kolbaj. Shygarmalar zhinagy: p'esa, ajtys, maqalalar [Kolbay Togisov. Collected Works: Plays, Song Competitions, Articles). Almaty: Alash (in Qazaq; Russian).
Smagulova, Svetlana. 2009. Kolbaj Togіsov zhane «Ush zhuz» partijasy [Kolbay Togisov and the “Ush Zhuz” party). Almaty: Arys (in Qazaq; Russian).
Subkhanberdina, U., Dautov, S., Sakhov, K. (ed.). 1998. «Qazaq» gazetі: Alash azamattarynyhg ruhyna bagyshtalady [“Qazaq” newspaper: Dedicated to the memory of Alash figures). Almaty: Qazaq Encyclopedia (in Qazaq).
Suleimenova, Dametken. 2007. Alash ordanyhg Batys bolimining tarihy – olke tarihynyng quramdas boligi [The history of the western branch of Alash Orda is an integral part of the history of the region). Almaty: Arys (in Qazaq).
Taj-Murat, Maksat. 2004. Gumar Qarash: omiri men shygarmashylygy [Gumar Qarash: Life and Work). Aqtobe: A-Polygraphia (in Qazaq).
Timofeev, N. 1935. Bor'ba kazahskoj partijnoj organizacii na dva fronta s uklonami v nacional'nom voprose, 1919–1920 [The struggle of the Qazaq party organization on two fronts with biases in the national question, 1919–1920). In: Bol'shevik Kazahstana [Bolshevik of Qazaqstan). Alma-Ata, 9–10, 74–85 (in Russian).
Togan, Zaki Validi. 1997. Vospominanija: Bor'ba musul'man Turkestana i drugih vostochnyh tjurok za nacional'noe sushhestvovanie i kul'turu [Memoirs: The struggle of Muslim Turkestan and other Eastern Turks for national existence and culture). Translated from the Turkish V.Feonova. Scientific editor S.Iskhakov. Moscow (in Russian).
Uyama, Tomohiko. 2000. The Geography of Civilizations: A Spatial Analysis of the Kazakh Intelligentsia’s Activities, from the Mid-Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century. In: Matsuzato, Kimitaka (ed.). Regions: A Prism to View the Slavic-Eurasian World: Towards a Discipline of “Regionology”. Sapporo: Slavic Research Center, Hokkaido University, 70–99 (in English).
Uyama, Tomohiko. 2001. Two attempts at Building a Qazaq State: The revolt of 1916 and the Alash Movement. In: Dudoignon, S., Komatsu, Hisao (eds.). Islam in Politics in Russia and Central Asia (Early Eighteenth to late Twentieth Centuries). Londres: Paul Kegan, 77–97 (in English).
Uyama, Tomohiko. 2010. Bakytzhan Karataev i alashordyncy: izmenenija vzaimootnoshenij [Baqytzhan Qarataev and Alash Orda: changes in relations). In: Voprosy istorii i arheologii Zapadnogo Kazahstana [Issues of History and Archeology of Western Qazaqstan), 2, 14–19 (in Russian).
Varlamov, P. 1935. O 1917 gode v Bukeevskoj orde [In 1917, he joined the Bukey Orde). In: Bol'shevik Kazahstana [Bolshevik of Qazaqstan). Alma-Ata, 9–10, 118–126 (in Russian).
Vilenskyi, E. et al. (ed.). 1957. Obrazovanie Kazahskoj ASSR: sbornik dokumentov i materialov [Education of the Qazaq ASSR: collection of documents and materials. Almaty: Academy of Sciences of the Qazaq SSR (in Russian).
Yeleuov, T. 1961. Ustanovlenie i uprochenie Sovetskoj vlasti v Kazahstane [Establishment and study of Soviet power in Qazaqstan). Alma-Ata: Nauka (in Russian).
Zhagyparov, N. (ed.). 2007. Alash qozgalysy – Dvizhenie Alash [Movement of Alash). April, 1920–1928. Almaty: El-shejire (in Kazakh; Russian).
Zhuravlev, V. 2001. Rozhdenie Vremennogo Sibirskogo pravitel'stva: iz istorii politicheskoj bor'by v lagere kontrrevoljucii [The Birth of the Provisional Siberian Government: From the History of Political Struggle in the Counter-Revolutionary Camp). In: Shishkin, V. (ed.). Grazhdanskaja vojna na vostoke Rossii. Problemy istorii: Bahrushinskie chtenija [Civil War in eastern Russia. The problem of history: Bakhrushin readings 2001). Novosibirsk: Novosibirsk State University, 26–47 (in Russian).
Zimanov, S., Dauletova, S., Ismagulov, M. 1975. Kazahskij otdel Narodnogo Komissariata po delam nacional'nostej RSFSR [Qazaq Department of the People's Commissariat for Nationalities of the RSFSR). Alma-Ata: Nauka (in Russian).
Zimanov, S., Dauletova, S., Ismagulov, M. 1981. Kazahskij revoljucionnyj komitet [Qazaq Revolutionary Committee). Alma-Ata: Nauka (in Russian).
Zobnin, F. 2007 (1902). Raby i tjulenguty v Kazahskoj stepi [Slaves and slaves in the Qazaq steppe). Almaty: Golden Book (in Russian).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
