Variations on Kazakh-ness: What Internationally Competitive Sports Tell Us about Identity and Nation-Building in Kazakhstan

Variations on Kazakh-ness: What Internationally Competitive Sports Tell Us about Identity and Nation-Building in Kazakhstan

Barbara Junisbai  (Assistant Dean, Pritzer College)
Thursday, May 24 / 4:00 PM
Lane Room, Ellison Hall

Kazakhstan’s international image is of utmost importance to the government.  The government’s approach to cultivate its image abroad  raises a number of questions about identity and nation-building.  Should the government “import” talent or foster “home-grown” athletes?  If athletes who represent Kazakhstan abroad are not themselves either Kazakh or Kazakhstani, how might this affect the instillation of patriotism and nationalism in its citizens?  The manner in which the government is building its international sports teams tells us a great deal about  the ambiguous nature of Kazakhstani identity , the trade-offs between international prestige and domestic capacity building , and which audiences are most important from the government’s point of view.

Sponsored by the IHC’s Identity Studies RFG.