Abstract

This paper explores the extent to which pan-nationalist myths in the political areas of Kazakhstani society interrelate and reinforce trust in governmental institutions. On a theoretical level, the paper aims to address gaps in contemporary pan-nationalist literature and trust and distrust in Central Asia. Moreover, juxtaposing the pan-nationalist literature with the literature on institutional trust is another theoretical contribution of this work. To investigate pan-nationalism and institutional trust at the empirical level, the author analyses these aspects in the context of pan-Turkist myths and narratives expressed and configured by Kazakhstani governmental institutions and officials. The empirical database includes public speeches, statements, and publications available online on governmental websites such as the Official website of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Gov.kz, and media sources such as “Kazinform” International News Agency, Liter, InAstana.kz, and Kapital. The sources are in English, Russian, and Kazakh that were published from 2010 to 2026. To analyse the empirical data, abductive thematic analysis is used to identify themes derived from the existing literature and discover new themes that shed light on the interrelation between pan-Turkist identity and trust in political institutions. Situated between induction and deduction, abductive thematic analysis allows to intimately analyse the emerging empirical data, which further critically refines the theoretical bodies of literature. The central argument of this paper is that officials configure pan-nationalist myths and narratives to reinforce the policies and regime’s legitimacy and authority by narrating the nation’s continuation and embodiment in the contemporary institutions. Focusing on the official strategies for upholding institutional trust, the paper argues that official interpretations of pan-nationalist myths and narratives are vital for reinventing beliefs in national pride that translate into trust in political institutions, which are narrated as embodiments of the nation’s continuity. Particularly, pan-Turkist myths and narratives transmit conceptions of the national antecedent might and glory, such as the Turkic periods and nomadic past, that further create social legitimacy and trust in institutions that express and address these identity conceptions.