ETHNO-CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF KAZAKHS IN IRAN
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56525/qqe55840Keywords:
Kazakh diaspora, Kazakhs in Iran, ethno-cultural development, migration, Mangystau region, collectivization, cultural adaptation, national identity, crafts, linguistic features, traditions and customs, repatriation, ethnic identity, cultural heritageAbstract
This article examines the historical causes of the formation and subsequent development of the Kazakh diaspora in Iran, as well as the specific features of its ethno-cultural adaptation within a multilingual and multiethnic environment. Particular attention is paid to the processes of preserving national identity, language, traditions, and elements of material culture among Kazakhs who migrated to Iran as a result of the socio-economic and political upheavals of the twentieth century.
The study demonstrates that the primary wave of Kazakh migration, particularly representatives of the Younger Zhuz, was associated with the policies of collectivization, forced sedentarization, and economic pressure implemented in Kazakhstan during the 1920s–1930s. These processes led to large-scale population displacement from the Mangystau region through Turkmenistan to the northern regions of Iran.
In the new socio-cultural context, the Kazakh diaspora faced complex adaptation challenges related to integration into a different cultural, linguistic, and social environment, which required the development of mechanisms for preserving ethnic distinctiveness while simultaneously integrating into the host society.
The article analyzes the economic activities of Kazakhs in Iran, including livestock breeding, agriculture, and particularly traditional crafts such as carpet weaving and the production of household items. It emphasizes that material culture served as one of the key factors in maintaining ethnic identity. Linguistic features are also discussed, including the preservation of the Kazakh language with noticeable Persian and Turkmen lexical influences.
Special attention is given to socio-cultural adaptation processes, changes in everyday life, family traditions, religious practices, and elements of traditional clothing. Despite long-term residence in a foreign ethnic environment, Kazakhs in Iran have managed to preserve their core cultural values and transmit them to subsequent generations.
In conclusion, the ethno-cultural experience of the Kazakh diaspora in Iran represents significant academic interest for studying diaspora identity formation, cultural transformation, and interethnic interaction processes.
