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Abstract

My study examines the securitization of Islam in post-Soviet Central Asia through a comparative lens, focusing on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. While both countries share a Soviet legacy of religious suppression and classification, their post-independence trajectories diverged significantly in terms of religious governance. Kazakhstan has implemented a centralized model of religious control, prioritizing state-sanctioned “traditional” Islam and suppressing unauthorized forms of religious expression. In contrast, Kyrgyzstan historically maintained a more pluralistic and decentralized approach. However, recent policy developments indicate a shift in Kyrgyzstan toward Kazakhstan’s securitized model.

Drawing on legal documents, media discourse, and sociological data, I explore how the binary framing of Islam as either “traditional” or “radical” serves as a political tool to legitimize authoritarian governance and suppress dissent. The study situates this securitization within a broader context of global Islamophobia and inherited Soviet epistemologies of religion. It further challenges the prevailing narrative of widespread politicized Islamization in the region by highlighting emerging trends of individualized and depoliticized religious engagement among ordinary believers.

Ultimately, the study calls for a reconceptualization of Islamic revival in Central Asia - one that moves beyond simplistic threat-based frameworks and recognizes the diversity and personal dimensions of Muslim religious life.