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- Convenors:
-
Mei-Hua Lan
(National Chengchi University, Taiwan)
Wei-chieh Tsai (National Chung Cheng University)
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- Format:
- Panel
- Theme:
- History
Abstract
The interplay of empire, nationalism, and ethnicity in Central Eurasia reveals a complex narrative of historical rivalries, suppressed identities, and modern challenges of belonging. This dynamic is rooted in historical imperial competition, prominently seen in the 18th- and 19th-century contest between the Russian and Qing empires over Kazakhstan. Following the Zünghar Khanate's collapse, these powers converged on the region, each with a distinct imperial ideology: Russia, as an heir to Roman traditions, co-opted local elites, while the Qing, succeeding a Turko-Mongol legacy, relied on military conquest. This rivalry fundamentally altered the Kazakh Khanate's sovereignty, placing it at the mercy of powerful external forces that would define its future borders and political alignment.
Within these imperial structures, indigenous nationalism emerged but was often actively reshaped by state power. The evolution of Buryat nationalism illustrates this process. In the early 20th century, a robust Pan-Mongolist identity flourished among Buryat elites who sought to create a Greater Mongolia. However, the Soviet regime brutally suppressed this movement through political purges and strategic administrative divisions, which severed Buryatia’s cultural and political ties to Mongolia while accelerating Russification. While a cultural revival occurred post-1980s, the once-potent political "Mongolian factor" has largely subsided, transforming into a cultural expression that coexists within a broader Russian civic identity.
In the post-imperial era, the complexities of ethnicity persist, complicating modern nation-building. This is evident in the integration of the "Kandas"—ethnic Kazakhs repatriating from China to Kazakhstan. Despite sharing an ethnic heritage, the second generation faces profound adaptation barriers due to linguistic, educational, and cultural differences inherited from their time within the Chinese sphere of influence. Their struggle illustrates that post-imperial identity is not a simple return to a primordial ethnicity. Instead, it is a difficult negotiation shaped by the enduring legacies of different empires, where language becomes a critical factor in social integration and the formation of a cohesive national identity.
This panel brings together these three papers to offer a multi-faceted perspective on the interplay of empire, nationalism, and ethnicity in Central Eurasia. We welcome further contributions that engage with this critical topic.
Accepted papers
Abstract
This paper investigates the historical evolution and significance of "Mongolian consciousness" within the development of Buryat nationalism, structuring its trajectory into two primary phases. The first phase (early 20th century to the late 1930s) was characterized by a robust Mongolian identity and active engagement in the Pan-Mongolism movement. Amidst the Russian Revolution and Civil War, Buryat elites sought to establish a Greater Mongolia and played a crucial role in assisting the independence and modernization of Outer Mongolia in the 1920s, aiming to secure maximum autonomy within the nascent Soviet system. However, to suppress Pan-Mongolist sentiments, the Soviet regime subsequently initiated severe political purges. This culminated in the territorial partition of Buryatia in 1937 and the removal of the ethnonym "Mongol" from the Autonomous Republic's title in 1958—deliberate policies that severed Buryatia's historical ties with Mongolia and accelerated Russification and cultural assimilation.
The second phase (late 1980s to the present) marks the resurgence of Buryat nationalism, catalyzed by Gorbachev’s reforms and the subsequent dissolution of the Soviet Union. This era witnessed a concerted effort to revitalize traditional culture, Buddhism, and Shamanism, alongside political demands for territorial restoration and the reinstatement of the "Mongol" designation. Nevertheless, constrained by contemporary political and economic realities, these political aspirations remained largely unfulfilled, and linguistic revitalization yielded limited results, with Russian persisting as the dominant language. The paper concludes that contemporary Buryat national identity has stabilized, comfortably coexisting with Russian civic identity. The once-prominent "Mongolian factor" has substantially diminished; political Pan-Mongolism has subsided, transitioning entirely into historical, religious, and cultural exchanges.
Keywords
Buryat Nationalism, The Mongolian Factor, Pan-Mongolism, National Identity, Cultural Revitalization
Abstract
This article examines the rivalry between the Russian and Qing empires in Kazakhstan from the mid-eighteenth to the mid-nineteenth century, exploring the divergence in political ideologies underlying their respective Central Asian policies. The expansionist trajectories of these two early modern empires converged in Turkestan; while Tsarist Russia secured control over Western Turkestan by co-opting the loyalty of local elites, the Qing consolidated its rule in Eastern Turkestan through military conquest. The Zünghar khanate had originally served as a buffer state between the two powers; however, following the collapse of the Zünghar khanate in 1757, a direct confrontation in Turkestan became inevitable. Consequently, the Kazakh khanate assumed critical strategic importance. This study aims to demonstrate the distinct imperial and colonial traditions exhibited by the Russian Empire—as an heir to Roman and Christian traditions—and the Qing Empire—as a successor to the Mongol/Turko-Mongol tradition—in their diplomatic and political engagements with the Kazakhs.
Abstract
Abstract:
This paper prioritizes language as a factor in adjustment difficulties among Kazakhs faced by ethnic Kazakhs migrating from China to Kazakhstan. With the passage of time, the challenges of adaptation for Qandas have emerged as a significant and complex issue. Through a comprehensive literature review spanning from 2014 to 2025, I will illustrate how language acts as a critical mediator shaping both individual cognition and practical social integration. Within this framework, relevance also begins to encompass the second generation of Qandas.
I argue that the linguistic shifts experienced during the educational process profoundly impact the development of their self-identity. Including the MOI(Medium of Instruction) choosing issue, writing system conversion, and language function in the actual workplace, etc. Key factors include the selection of the MOI, the conversion between divergent writing systems, and the consideration of the functional role of language within the professional workplace. These factors reveal diverse social phenomena that persist despite various government policies aimed at supporting and improving the Qandas integration process. To fully understand the current situation, it is essential to account for the initial Chinese educational background of these migrants, as the context is vital for understanding their baseline identity markers prior to migration. Furthermore, the internalized attitudes toward the three primary languages — Kazakh, Russian, and Mandarin — similarly influence their sense of adaptation and belonging. By manifesting the Intersectionality of ethnic identity, economic considerations, and language usage, seeking solutions to the challenges and the future prospects.
By analyzing the intersectionality of ethnic identity, economic pressures, and language usage, this paper identifies solutions to current challenges and outlines future prospects for this population.
Keywords:
Repatriation Policy of Kazakhstan, Language Adaptation, Ethnic Kazakhs, Qandas, Migration