Kazakhstan needs new national identity built on Kazakh spiritual culture, scholar says

September 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM2 min

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Historian Asylbek Izbairov proposes building a new Kazakh national identity around Kazakh spiritual culture and the concept of Adab. He argues that up to 12.5% of Kazakhstan's population are practicing believers, creating a demand for a post-secular society. Izbairov says this model can serve as a 'vaccine' against both aggressive secularism and religious radicalism.

Key Facts

Historian Asylbek Izbairov proposes a new national identity for Kazakhstan centered on Kazakh spiritual culture and Adab.
According to the Astana International Financial Centre, up to 12.5% of Kazakhstan's population are practicing believers.
Izbairov argues that a post-secular society can act as a 'vaccine' against aggressive secularism and religious radicalism.
He states that the state's task is to ensure equality of citizens, freedom of worldview, and neutrality of power.

Post-Secular Society Concept

Izbairov distinguishes between the secularity of the state and the secularity of society, noting that while the state is separated from religion by the Constitution, society is not bound by such prohibitions. He defines a post-secular society as one where religious worldview becomes a legitimate part of public space without negating worldview pluralism. According to Izbairov, post-secularity does not mean the Islamization of the state, just as secularity does not mean the exclusion of religion from society. The state's role in this model is to create rules that allow different groups to live together without conflict, using the principle of inclusivity.

Religious Demographics and Identity

The Astana International Financial Centre reports that up to 12.5% of Kazakhstan's population are practicing believers who perform rituals and requirements of their religion in daily life. Izbairov notes that religion has again become a visible part of public life and, for a significant portion of citizens, an element of personal and cultural identity. He argues that Islam is closely tied to Kazakh culture, family traditions, way of life, and self-perception. The presence of a relatively large group of believers creates a demand for society to become post-secular, according to Izbairov.