Commemorative practices of honoring world war ii heroes in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The article examines the history and practice of erecting monuments to the heroes of the Second World War (Great Patriotic War) in Kazakhstan after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The aim of the study is to analyze commemorative practices and the cultural significance of monuments, as well as to determine their role in shaping national memory and the heroic discourse. The methodology is based on phenomenological and existential approaches, combined with cultural analysis of symbolic space, ritual practices, and the phenomenon of heroization. The sources include the sites of the monuments, their visual representations, depictions in the media, content analysis of specialized literature, and data obtained from interviews with actors and experts. Special attention was given to field research conducted in Astana and the western regions of Kazakhstan, which involved visual documentation of monuments, observation of ritual practices, and the collection of local narratives. To ensure a comprehensive understanding of the meaning of the monuments and their role in cultural memory, a narrative approach was employed. Findings indicate that monuments to Second World War heroes function as a cultural code of the Kazakh nation, reflecting resilience, heroism, and national worldview. Case studies of figures such as Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, Rakhymzhan Koshkarbayev, Aliya Moldagulova, and Manshuk Mametova demonstrate that these monuments serve not only as objects of visual representation but also as instruments of commemoration, fostering patriotic consciousness and transmitting cultural values to future generations. Illustrations and related data were obtained as part of the field research.