The Role of Historical Memory of the Great Patriotic War in Shaping Political Identity in Contemporary Kazakhstan

Research аrticle

Abstract

Growing international instability has increased the importance of historical memory as a mechanism for shaping and reproducing political identity. Within contemporary memory politics, the memory of the Second World War occupies a prominent position due to its strong potential to foster social cohesion. This article aims to identify the mechanisms through which political identity is reproduced in contemporary Kazakhstan, with particular attention to the role of historical memory of the Great Patriotic War. To achieve this aim, the study examines the structure of collective memory and the principal institutional and social channels through which it is transmitted and reproduced. A comparative analysis of memory politics in the European Union, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan provides an additional analytical framework for interpreting the findings. The scholarly contribution of the study lies in developing the understanding of historical memory as a mechanism for the reproduction of political identity. Its practical significance is associated with the potential application of the findings to the development of state memory policy, educational programmes, and commemorative practices. The study employs a mixed-methods design combining quantitative and qualitative analyses of a sociological survey of 606 respondents, thematic coding of open-ended responses, and interpretation of the findings through contemporary theoretical approaches to collective memory and political identity. The findings demonstrate that the collective memory of young people in Kazakhstan is predominantly structured around narratives of heroism, collective labour, and a shared contribution to Victory. These narratives contribute to the formation of a common symbolic space underpinning the political community. Education, museums, commemorative practices, and mass media constitute the principal channels through which historical memory is transmitted and reproduced. The analysis reveals no statistically significant relationship between everyday language use and political identity, pointing to the emergence of an inclusive model of political identity that transcends ethnic and linguistic boundaries. Based on the empirical findings, the study develops a multi-level model of political identity reproduction comprising institutional, symbolic, cognitive, and integrative dimensions. The proposed framework can inform the development of educational and commemorative policies, as well as state memory policy, aimed at strengthening social cohesion and civic identity.