Colonialism, Bolshevism, Women's Equality, Kazakh-Language Sources — An American Historian

We spoke with Rebekah Ramsay, an American scholar who moved to Kazakhstan at the age of ten and spent a decade living in Karaganda."The fact that so few people around the world know about a region with such a rich history — and about events as profoundly important as the famine — deeply troubled me. That's why I decided to devote my career to studying the history of Kazakhstan," says Rebekah.She is now an associate professor at the renowned University of California, Berkeley, where she is writing one of the first monographs in English on the history of Kazakhstan in the 1920s and 1930s.00:00 An American historian who grew up in Karaganda10:05 Is it possible to study Kazakh history at an American university?14:15 Colonial powers and colonized nations understand the term "East" very differently17:55 What motivated Kazakh women activists?19:38 Does Alma Orazbayeva's tragic fate reflect the broader experience of Kazakh women of that era?24:57 The idea that the Bolsheviks brought literacy and women's equality to Kazakhstan is a misconception33:02 About the "Sanzhyra" project35:34 "Russian-language sources do not present the full picture. My understanding of Kazakh history changed fundamentally after I started reading sources in Kazakh."42:57 In the 1920s and 1930s, Kazakhstan was connected to global processes far more deeply than we tend to assume45:25 "The Reborn Kazakh Nation"Let's support quality Kazakh-language content together — hit like, leave a comment, and share this episode with your friends. Our podcast deserves to be seen by more people!Also, if you are new to our channel, we have a playlist of English language episodes, check them out! https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbmAbEk-U4SEMWWLQ_fGTpZJye1xo8QxY&si=mDpV7fCqctC1JWyq You will learn more about the wonderful country we proudly call home.