Arifeen Yama, Wasino
As a representative ethnos of the broader Turkic world in Central Asia, this study examines the historical development and modern identity of the Kazakh people. Tracing a trajectory from early Turkic empires and steppe nomadic traditions to the consolidation of the Kazakh Khanate and Soviet-era transformations, the research highlights the interplay of tribal genealogies, linguistic continuities, and Islamic influences particularly Sufi ethics in shaping Kazakh ethnogenesis. Drawing on historical texts, oral epics, and contemporary cultural practices, the paper positions Kazakhstan as both a historical heartland and a contemporary standard-bearer of Turkic civilisation. In the post-Soviet period, Kazakhstan has actively revitalized its Turkic and Islamic heritage through cultural diplomacy, digital plat-forms, and multilateral engagement with Turkic-speaking nations. The Kazakh identity, situ-ated at the intersection of Kipchak ancestry, Sufi-Islamic tradition, and Eurasian geopolitics, demonstrates a dynamic continuity of Turkic civilisational identity through cultural memory, symbolic adaptation, and strategic reinvention. These findings not only deepen scholarly understanding of ethnogenesis and identity construction in Central Asia, but also underscore Kazakhstan’s evolving role in cultural diplomacy, heritage preservation, and regional nation-branding. Methodologically, this study demonstrates the value of integrating oral historiography with cultural diplomacy analysis in post-Soviet identity studies. The findings contribute to broader debates on post-Soviet nation-building, soft power strategy, and symbolic politics across the Turkic world. © 2025, Universitas Negeri Semarang. All rights reserved.
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
