Modern Clan Politics

The book delves into the intricate relationship between kin-based clan divisions and state politics in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Through comprehensive ethnographic and archival research, the author reveals how modernization does not diminish the significance of kinship; instead, the state actively shapes and reinforces these clan relationships, imbuing them with political and social relevance. By leveraging the "concealability" of clans, the state fosters a dynamic political landscape characterized by vibrant subethnic divisions, challenging conventional understandings of modernity in Central Asia.