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Abstract:

Gift giving is a common practice in the social and economic life of Kazakhstan and, more broadly, Central Asia. However, giving is not limitless. In spring 2024, extensive flooding hit large parts of Northern Kazakhstan, prompting calls for donations to support the affected population. Despite the appeals, scepticism arose: Residents in south-eastern Kazakhstan expressed concerns that significant portions of the donated funds were misappropriated. They revealed a reluctance to donate money under such circumstances.

This paper, drawing on exploratory field research on foundations in Kazakhstan and long-term ethnographic field research on trade across the Sino-Kazakh border, examines local alternatives for pooling funds and investing in charitable activities. The study investigates the channels through which donations are managed and identifies key administrators, including heads of local neighbourhoods (zhigit beshi) and welfare bloggers. These local charity practices provide insights into the organization of communities based on gift giving and the critical roles of trust and transparency. Moreover, they shed light on the significance of scale in donation practices.

Empirically, this paper shows how practices of giving in Kazakhstan are facilitated by locally recognized individuals. Conceptually, it advances our understanding of the mechanisms through which local charity practices operate, thereby contributing to the broader discourse on community organization and the socio-economic dynamics of gift giving in Central Asia.