102. ANALYSIS: Azamat Junisbai reflects on Kazakh identity, Russian dominance, the war in Ukraine, and the process of decolonizing one’s own mind

Azamat Junisbai, Professor of Sociology at Pitzer College, reflects on growing up an ethnic Kazakh in a Russian-dominated environment in Kazakhstan, Kazakh identity, the economic fallout of the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the legacy of Russian dominance, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the process of decolonizing one's own mind.  

"As an ethnic Kazakh growing up speaking Russian, I not only lost my language but I began to associate Kazakh with backwardness... how colonized you are in your own mind if you think that about your own culture... and I don't think my story is that unique..."

"I think it's seeing Ukraine struggle against Russian agression... that has awakened this sense of Kazakh identity..."

"There is something about the way for decades Russian people were taught to think about themselves... that the Europeans and the Americans are the colonial powers and Russia is always the bringer of culture and education and to call it a colonizer is crazy... but I think until and unless this is examined by Russians themselves... no-one around Russia is safe..." 

Azamat Junisbai on The Limits of Authoritarian Learning: Deconstructing Kazakhstan's 2022 Coup Attempt 

Azamat Junisbai on Making Sense of Kazakhstan's Political Transition

Follow Azamat on twitter: @azamatistan

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