Politics of Titular Identity and State-Legitimization: The Unique Case of Post-Colonial and Post-Communist Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

Key Points

• The central aim is to explore how post-Soviet administrations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan constructed their national identities through titular ethnic groups amid complex socio-political environments.
• Analyzed various identity parameters influencing state legitimacy in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
• Examined historical contexts of decolonization and the impacts of Islamic movements during the post-Soviet era.
• Identified key strategies employed by administrations to promote titular ethnic groups for national unity.
• Revealed how these strategies were pivotal in legitimizing state power amidst historical challenges.