Historical Significance

Group: SIS-2303 Yessenbaev Yernur

Date: 11.11.2023

What is the historical phenomenon, change(s), event(s), and historical period you are investigating?
Kazakhstan in the years of industrialization and collectivization

List the groups and people involved in this historical phenomenon, change(s), and event(s).
A.Kanaev,J.Bayimbetov,M.Samatov,T.Ryskulov,A.Bokeikhanov,M.Dulatuly,M.Zhumabaev

The main idea of the text:

During the years of industrialization and collectivization in Kazakhstan, several groups of people
experienced significant changes and played various roles in shaping the events of that time
Kazakh Peasantry:

Changes: The traditional Kazakh nomadic herders and farmers experienced a radical transformation in
their way of life. Forced to abandon individual farming practices, many were resettled into collective
farms, leading to disruptions in their cultural and economic practices.
Roles: The peasantry, as the primary workforce in agriculture, played a crucial role in the implementation
of collectivization. Some embraced the new system, while others resisted, leading to tensions and
conflicts within the community.

Soviet Officials and Planners:

Changes: Soviet officials involved in economic planning, such as those from Gosplan, experienced a shift
in focus from agrarian policies to industrialization. The emphasis on meeting production targets and
transforming the economy influenced their decision-making.
Roles: These officials played a key role in designing and implementing industrialization and
collectivization policies. Their decisions had far-reaching consequences for the economic and social
fabric of Kazakhstan.

Communist Party Leaders:

Changes: Communist Party leaders in Kazakhstan, including figures like Sultan Beisembayev and later
Dinmukhamed Kunaev, navigated the transition from advocating for proletarian interests to overseeing
the practicalities of collectivization and industrialization.
Roles: Party leaders were instrumental in mobilizing support for the new policies, ensuring party
discipline, and handling resistance. They were key figures in the political landscape, influencing the
trajectory of the region.

Nomadic Elites and Intellectuals:

Changes: The traditional nomadic elites and intellectuals faced challenges as their roles and status
underwent transformation. The societal shift from a nomadic to a more sedentary lifestyle altered the
dynamics of leadership and influence.
Roles: Some elites aligned with Soviet policies, seeing opportunities for advancement, while others
resisted, seeking to preserve traditional ways. Intellectuals grappled with the tension between embracing
modernization and preserving cultural heritage.
Local Administrators and NKVD Officials:
Local administrators and NKVD officials experienced a shift in their roles from managing local affairs to
enforcing collectivization policies and suppressing dissent. The implementation of collectivization often
involved harsh measures to quell resistance.
Roles: Local administrators were tasked with overseeing the practical aspects of collectivization, while
NKVD officials played a role in maintaining control through surveillance, arrests, and the suppression of
perceived counter-revolutionary activities.

Alash Orda Supporters and Opposition:

Members of the Alash Orda movement, which initially advocated for Kazakh autonomy, faced a changing
political landscape as Soviet policies gained momentum. Some aligned with the Soviet regime, while
others resisted the erosion of Kazakh autonomy.
Roles: Alash Orda supporters played diverse roles, from collaboration to resistance, in response to the
unfolding events. The movement's fate reflected the challenges of reconciling nationalist aspirations with
the realities of Soviet rule.

Ordinary Citizens:
The general population, comprising both urban and rural dwellers, experienced changes in their daily
lives. Urban populations saw the expansion of industrial infrastructure, while rural communities faced the
challenges and disruptions of collectivization.
Roles: Ordinary citizens were both recipients and agents of change. Some embraced the opportunities
presented by industrialization, while others grappled with the hardships and uncertainties brought about
by collectivization.

Keywords with explanations:

Industrialization:
The process of developing industries and manufacturing capabilities within a country or region. In the
context of Kazakhstan, it refers to the deliberate efforts to build and expand industrial infrastructure, often
associated with economic modernization.

Collectivization:
The policy pursued by the Soviet Union, particularly under Joseph Stalin, involving the consolidation of
individual farms and households into collective farms. The goal was to increase agricultural productivity and
facilitate state control over the agricultural sector.

Soviet Union:
A socialist state that existed from 1922 to 1991, comprising multiple republics, including the Kazakh Soviet
Socialist Republic. The Soviet government, led by the Communist Party, implemented various policies,
including industrialization and collectivization.

Communist Party:
The political party that governed the Soviet Union. The Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU)
played a central role in decision-making and policy implementation.
Alash Orda:
A political movement in Kazakhstan advocating for national autonomy before and during the early years of
Soviet rule. Some members collaborated with Soviet authorities, while others resisted collectivization.
Significance Criteria
In what ways is this phenomenon, change, event,
or person historically significant?
1. Resulting in Change
a) Profundity: How were people affected by this
phenomenon, change, event, or person?
b) Quantity: How many people’s lives were
affected?
c) Durability: How long-lasting were the
changes?
Does In what way does this event or person meet the
it criteria?
apply The industrialization efforts aimed to shift Kazakhstan
? from an agrarian economy to an industrial one. This
(Y/N)
marked a significant departure from traditional
nomadic herding practices and had lasting
implications for the economic landscape of the region.
The transition from individual farming to collective
farms had a profound impact on the traditional
lifestyle and cultural practices of the Kazakh people.
The nomadic way of life, deeply rooted in Kazakh
identity, was disrupted, leading to a transformation in
social structures and community dynamics.
a) Profundity:
The industrialization and collectivization in
Kazakhstan were profoundly impactful on the
population, particularly the traditional Kazakh
nomadic herders and farmers. The shift from
individual farming to collective farms disrupted
centuries-old ways of life. Many faced challenges
adapting to the new system, and there were instances
of resistance.
The profound changes affected social structures,
economic practices, and cultural traditions. The
nomadic lifestyle, central to Kazakh identity, was
significantly altered as people were relocated, and the
state imposed centralized control over agricultural
practices.
b) Quantity:
The scale of the impact was substantial, affecting
millions of people in Kazakhstan. The entire agrarian
sector underwent transformation as individual farms
were collectivized. The lives of nomadic herders, who
formed a significant portion of the population, were
particularly affected.
The policies touched upon various aspects of society,
reaching not only farmers but also urban populations
involved in industrialization efforts. The quantity of
lives affected encompassed both rural and urban
communities.
c) Durability:

2. Revealing
How does this historical phenomenon, change,
event, or person shed light on enduring issues in
Kazakh history or your Native history?
The changes brought about by industrialization and
collectivization had long-lasting effects on Kazakh
society. The shift from nomadic herding to collective
farming persisted for decades, shaping the agricultural
landscape for generations.
The industrialization efforts left a durable imprint on
the economic structure of Kazakhstan, laying the
foundation for its later development as an
industrialized republic within the Soviet Union.
The historical phenomenon of industrialization and
collectivization in Kazakhstan sheds light on enduring
issues in Kazakh history:
Colonial Legacy: The policies implemented by the
Soviet government reflected a colonial approach to the
diverse ethnic groups within the Soviet Union. The
impact of collectivization on the Kazakh people
reveals power dynamics and challenges associated
with integrating diverse cultures into a unified state.
Identity and Culture: The forced transition from
nomadic herding to collective farming revealed the
tension between Soviet attempts to homogenize
culture and the resilience of Kazakh identity. The
preservation of cultural elements despite state-led
changes highlights the enduring importance of cultural
heritage.
Economic Transformation: The industrialization
efforts in Kazakhstan contribute to understanding the
broader economic transformation within the Soviet
Union. This includes the shift from an agrarian to an
industrial society and the role of republics like
Kazakhstan in the larger Soviet economic framework.