Throughout Kazakhstan, many Soviet landmarks, buildings, and memorials survive, and their continued existence poses questions about the significance and contribution of the Soviet Union to Kazakh national identity and independence (Gentile 2004; Adams 2010). Likewise, the absence of Soviet landmarks in certain areas, raises questions about efforts taken to de-Sovietize the landscape. For three months I conducted research aimed toward understanding the nature of Kazakh nationalism in a post-Soviet landscape. Focusing on former closed and secret cities, I analyze the preservation of Soviet memorials, the persistent use of the Russian language, and efforts to fashion a distinct identity.
Robert A. Kopack, of Michigan State University, was a 2012-2013 Individual Advanced Research Opportunities (IARO) [7] fellow.
