Military/society relations

• The role of solidarities and loyalties in Central Asian armies: minorities in the military; kinship networks in the military.  

• The action of military elites as lobby groups and the perceptions they generate. Are these elites no more than interest group(s) competing with others for the ownership and use of resources, power, etc… or does their state function (defense, public order) confer upon them a specific role and modus operandi?

• How the contradictions affecting Central Asian societies  (tribal and clan divisions, ethnic tension, regional disparities, urban-rural differences, social inequalities etc) affects the national armies ?

• - The Central Asian armies in Central Asian public opinion.

Military reform

1. Doctrine, strategy and tactics; 2. Security challenges; 3. Economy of the military reform; 4. Security forces

Heroic epics- batyrlar jury

Functions: 1) educative and ideological- train the young generation on glorious heroic past; 2) philosophical- reasons of war and mission of the society and its members in the war.

Heroes of Great Patriotic war (1941-1945)

96 Kazakhs were awarded the heroes title during the war. Among them:

• Nurken Abdirov (1919 - 1942), fighter pilot, Talgat Begeldinov (born 1922), fighter pilot, Manshuk Mametova (1922 - 1943), machine gunner,

• Aliya Moldagulova (1925 - 1944), sniper, Baurzhan Momyshuly (1910 - 1982), writer, Rakhimzhan Qoshqakbayev (born 1924), first soldier to raise the Soviet Flag over the Reichstag in Berlin (not awarded).

• Malik Gabdulin

Post-war criticism

The heroes could be more, among them could be- Baurzhan Momysh-uly (only in 1990 by Gorbachev degree, after death), Rakhimzhan Qoshqarbayev, Qassym Qaisenov.

Since mid 1980s- more heroes: -Kairbolat (Nickolai) Maidanov (for Afghan war), in 1998- Tokhtar Aubakirov (for landing his Mig fighter on the ship deck), and then as the first cosmonaut –Halyk Kaharmany.

Post 1991

Tohtar Aubakirov (born 1946), the first Kazakh cosmonaut, member of Kazakhstan parliament.

Talgan Mussabayev (born 1951), test pilot, former cosmonaut, Director of Aerospace Agency of Republic of Kazakhstan

Patriotism culture

Patriotism is a love and devotion to one's country. It has had different meanings over time and its meaning is highly dependent upon context, geography, and philosophy.

It is a related sentiment to nationalism, but nationalism is not necessarily an inherent part of patriotism.

Controversy on Ospan batyr, hero of Kazakhs in China, the last Kazakh batyr

In 1944 the USSR set up the East Turkestan republic (renamed soon in Three districts- fear of Islamic name) В led by Uigur Alikhan Tore. In September 1945, Ospan batyr was appointed the governor of Altai okrug. But he refused to be a puppet of the USSR, and dreamt of independent state for Kazakhs, therefore collaborated with Gomingdan regime since 1946. After defeat of nationalists refused to cooperate with the communists, in 1950 was captured by Maoists and executed in 1951.

Кто посягнет на мои чувства, религию, землю, народ – тот и будет моим врагом. От такой борьбы я никогда не откажусь.