Shifting Sands: Uncovering the Struggle for World War II Memory in Kazakhstan

This article examines the commemoration of Kazakhstani participation in World War II between 1992 and 2025 by studying official speeches, newspaper coverage, and history textbooks and conducting interviews with memory agents. It argues that the evolution of public memory surrounding the war reflects a broader shift away from Soviet and Russian narratives. Competing engagements by mnemonic agents, alongside their co-optation by the Toqaev government, have made narratives of mourning and grievance more apparent, signaling the emergence of a distinct Kazakh perspective on World War II memory. Publications from leading history institutions and school textbooks have further amplified these memory contestations.