Memory Policy and the Construction of New Identities in the Greater Caspian Countries: The Cases of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan

Abstract

The article analyses the formation of new identities in the Caspian post-Soviet republics. The overall importance of the subject under consideration stems from the need to reassess Russia’s current foreign policy interests and its renewed role in the international arena. Throughout Russian history the Caspian region has been of a particular interest. The development of the Caspian region is perceived as a complex issue, entailing tough negotiations on the Caspian Sea shelf, emerging alternative transport roots bypassing Russia, etc. The Caspian Sea region is becoming a place where the configuration and alliances of various political forces may be multivariate and unpredictable. Therefore, the relevant task is to identify the peculiar patterns of identity formation in the Caspian countries, emphasizing the role of memory policy. The paper focuses on Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan using sociological survey (both quantitative and qualitative), conducted by the authors, as a basic research method. The respondents were young citizens of both countries. The study shows that Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan use the same patterns to shape new memory policy, namely the fundamentalization of their own past through its ancientization, the revision and revaluation of the past shared with Russia and the anticipation of future opportunities. These processes are aimed at reinforcing political independence and demonstrating new prospects. At the same time, the results of the memory policy are controversial and its efficiency differs in these states: the coherence between expected and actual results is more evident in Kazakhstan.

Keywords

• memory politics
• collective identity
• kazakhstan
• turkmenistan