Coverage in the periodical press of tsarist Russia of the colonial policy on the Kazakh land

Abstract

Relevance. In 1867, newspapers, magazines and books published in many languages around the world began to collect materials about Central Asia as a whole, including the Turkestan region and Kazakhstan. This work was carried out until 1939 with interruptions, as a result of which a very large and scientifically significant “Turkestan Collection” was compiled with a total volume of 594 volumes. The collection is kept in the collection of rare manuscripts and books of the National Library of Uzbekistan “Alisher Navoi”, includes journalistic materials of various genres published in newspapers and magazines not only in tsarist Russia, but also in other foreign countries. Purpose. This paper aims to analyze the coverage of Russian colonial policies in Kazakhstan as documented in the “Turkestan Collection”, emphasizing how this body of work reflects and influences historical perceptions. Methodology. An extensive review of journalistic materials from the “Turkestan Collection” was conducted, focusing on articles published in Russian newspapers and magazines from 1867 to 1939. The materials include a wide range of genres and reflect both Russian and foreign perspectives on the events in the region. Results. The analysis reveals that the “Turkestan Collection” primarily portrays the Russian colonial endeavors in a positive light, often diminishing the significance of local resistance and the negative impacts of colonization. The collection was influenced by the political climate of the time and served as a tool for Russian propaganda. Conclusions. The “Turkestan Collection” serves as a significant historical resource that offers insights into Russian colonial policies and their portrayal in the media. However, its biased representation underlines the importance of critical analysis when using such collections for historical research, emphasizing the need to balance these accounts with other sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical events in Central Asia.