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Section 4. History
Aydarbaeva Raushan,
D. Serikbaev East Kazakhstan State Technical University, Ph. D., Associate Professor E-mail: raushan-aid@mail.ru Niyazkhankyzy Gulzhanat, D. Serikbaev East Kazakhstan State Technical University, Ph. D., Associate Professor E-mail: gulzhanat66@mail.ru
On the problem of the formation irredenta of kazakh in China
Abstract: This article discusses the formation of the Kazakh irredenta in China. Disclosed the causes and identify the steps of the process.
Keywords: Kazakhs, irredenta, migration.
The restructuring of the former Soviet Union shifted the problem of borders of Kazakhstan with the newly independent States and the countries of Central Asia from the sphere of economic geography in the field of geopolitics.
One of the most important geopolitical border of Kazakhstan is Ore Altai (Rudnii Altai). Altai Republic is part of the Greater Altai along with Xinjiang China (Xinjiang), Bayan-Ulgii and Hovdossky aimags of Mongolia. Development of regional and cross-border forms of cooperation in economical, cultural and interethnic aspects within the macro-region of Altai plays a great role in the formation of the modern Kazakh Altai.
Currently the cross-border cooperation programs are based on the ideas of the Eurasian Union and the prospects for inter-regional integration. Ethno-political factor plays an important role in the assessment of the current situation in the macro-region. The peculiarity of the situation is that Kazakh ethnic group, which is united by common history, common culture, common language and a common religion plays the dominant role in multi-ethnic communities of the border regions of Greater Altai.
The historical experience ofmigration, economic, cultural and ethno-political Kazakh relations in the border areas are the basis of cross-border consolidation of the community. It can be assumed that its geopolitical orientations and strategy will have a significant impact on the development of the situation in this part of Central Asia.
Kazakh government’s interest to the Kazakh Eurasian community leads to a number of international agreements. The significance of this problem is determined by the strategy of development and approval of national policy frameworks [1, 6].
The politicization of ethnic history and ethno-na-tional ideology creates an extending tense along national borders of modern Kazakhstan. In the context of maintaining stability in the macro-region and the development of relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries the problem of Kazakh border zone of the Big Altai, with Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China takes on new meaning.
In respect to Kazakh diaspora, we can state the following: its members are an integral part of all Kazakh people and have a single ancestral home — Kazakhstan, practice the Muslim religion, belong to the Turkic-speaking peoples, but due to internal and external events in the past, live outside the country, mostly in Asia, Western Europe and America.
Irredenta Kazakh Diaspora is one of the most important components of our foreign policy. It should be clarified that the Kazakhs living in adjacent territories with Kazakhstan in Russia (Astrakhan, Orenburg, Kurgan, Omsk, Gorno-Altai Autonomous Region), Uzbekistan (areas of the Syr Darya, Chirchik, Kyzyl Kum, Myrzashol) and China (regions of Altai, Tarbagatay Or Kulja, Erenkaby-rgi, Barkol-Qumul XUAR) in any case can not be defined by the term “diaspora”, as they live in their own territory, this group is defined by the term “irredenta”. This term was defined by Professor GM Mendikulova, one of the scientists — researchers of this issue [2, 51].
The term “irredenta or national reunification” in modern foreign political science imply ethnic minorities that inhabited the territory adjacent to the states, which are dominated by their compatriots. Outside their country irredenta nation (as opposed to the diaspora, which were created by the migration of ethnic groups in other countries that are not their historical homeland) end up
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On the problem of the formation irredenta of kazakh in China
due to wars, annexations, disputed borders or complex colonial models.
Kazakh irredenta in China was established during the XVI-XIX centuries during the Oirat-Kazakh wars, territorial conquests of the Russian Empire in Kazakhstan, which led to the Sino-Russian territorial delimitation in Central Asia, because of which Kazakhs lost significant part of their territory in the north-east, south and east, leading to the formation of the Kazakh irredenta in China.
Kazakh-Oirat relationship in XVII-XVIII centuries made historical basis for the creation of the Kazakh irredenta in China. In XV-XVI centuries, Kazakh territory has been subject to raids by Oirats, which originally had purpose of “looting and destruction”. However, after the formation of the Jungar khanate the main motive of Oirat incursions to Kazakhstan territory became territorial conquests. Gradually, Oirats captured parts of the eastern, southeastern and southern Kazakhstan. This established the beginning of the migration of Kazakhs.
It should also be noted that even though, Jungar conquest led to the gradual shift of the Kazakh population of the Altai and the Irtysh River to the west, we cannot limit their relationships to wars only. There were peaceful periods among the two as well, when two allied and had trading relations. As a result, some Kazakhs could remain on their lands in the Jungar khanate. This outcome has number of arguments. For example, well-known scientist M. Mukanov, defending the point of view of Turkic origin Naiman, writes: “If we talk about Turkified Naiman it should be noted that the eastern Naimans (Zaisan, Ust-Kamenogorsk) could not be subjected to this process, if only because they were, up to middle of the XVIII century, ruled by Mongols: first by empire of Genghis Khan, and later became part of the Oirat state — powerful Dzhungaria. But, despite this, Naiman preserved their language, their material and spiritual culture” [3, 40].
Another fact, as it is known to us, at the beginning of the XVIII century Dzungars moved some Telengits from North to South of the Altai valley of Buhtarmy and Uba rivers. And the area were shared by nomadic Kazakhs, Oirats and Telengits [4, 223-234].
The above fragmentary data suggest that at the beginning of the XVIII century nomadic Kazakhs occupied
separate areas of Altai steppes and mountain areas of Southern Altai. These territories were not “nobody’s land” as it is trying to be proven by some amateur researchers, they were used by Kazakhs, Altai Telengits and other nomadic tribes as seasonal pastures occupied by nomads in a certain period of the cycle of nomad’s seasons.
The next stage in the history of the irredenta in China is the defeat of Jungar khanate by Qing in 1757 and the subsequent abruption of Kazakh lands in favor of the Qing China. Qing rulers declared all the lands formerly subservient Dzungar Khanate to their property, among the large areas of labor migrations middle and senior zhuzes that Kazakhs tried to return. They tried to prevent movement of Kazakhs.
However, Qings could not break the centuries-es-tablished system of migrations of Kazakh Middle zhuz. They also were not able to stop the flow of migration to the east. Qing’s government attempt to solve the problem by force did not give results either. Fighting back with Kazakhs, Qings were forced to begin negotiation in 1767 and “allowed” Kazkaks to winter in Tarbagatai and other places of Eastern and South-Eastern Kazakhstan, and got payed taxes in return. Thus, the Kazakhs in 1767 managed to return some of their land in the Mongolian Altai and Ili region.
In the first half XIX century, Kazakhs nomaded in this area. However, the beginning of the peasant colonization of Kazakhstan had led to withdrawal of Kazakh’s lands in favor of resettlement fund and extrusion of Kazakhs from their lands. This marked the beginning of large-scale migration of Kazakhs in China in the 70th of the XIX century.
Russian colonization process in Kazakhstan had been successful leading to the convergence of the new Russian territory with Qing’s China territory. This fact made it necessary to address number of inter-state problems, including state and territorial delimitation. Because of signing and ratifying the Russian-Chinese treaty, Kazakh territory and the population that lived there, were forcibly divided between the two states.
Thus, political events of XVII-XIX centuries became the basis for the formation of the Kazakh irredenta in the border areas of China.
References:
1. Назарбаев Н. В потоке истории. - Астана, 1999.
2. Мендикулова Г. М. Исторические судьбы казахской диаспоры. Происхождение и развитие. - Алматы, 1997.
3. Муканов М. С. Этнический состав и расселение казахов Среднего жуза. - Алма-Ата, 1974.
4. Потапов Л. П. Этнографический обзор племен Алтая в джунгарский период.//Известия Всесоюзного географического общества. - 1946. - № 2.
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