Alarm bells have been rung about the resurgence of patriarchal ideals and demand for Political Islam in Central Asia. The Soviets institutionalised secular education and high female labour force participation. So what explains the rise of religosity, veiling, calls for female obedience and Shariah?
I remember reading somewhere that Bangladesh banned foreign funding for non profit education many decades ago. So you think this is one of the reasons why Bangladesh has remained RELATIVELY secular than other Muslim countries of comparable wealth. Although migration into the Gulf countries for jobs has probably offset the benefit of the ban as these people learn political Islam from their Pakistani peers.
I think good explanations have been given. I leaked somewhere. With the arrival of the Soviets, women were also given voting rights. In this regard, the women of Central Asia gained the right to vote earlier than the women of Great Britain. How effectively women use these benefits is another matter altogether. Arabization in these societies is now at a high level.
Really interesting piece, insightful. I wonder how big a part Saudi Arabia has to play here. If it is genuinely liberalising under MBS (an open question), whether that may have a knock on effect to the rest of the Muslim world?
It got me thinking too about the development of Western Europe, as there would have been a time (not that long ago) where that part of the world was similarly in hock to religion and patriarchy. What did the powers that were around at the time do that dragged everyone along the road towards equality that the Soviets failed to do in much of Central Asia in the early and mid 1900s?
The comparison of the two countries post So it era is wonderful.
One question: whether or how were the Kazahks were able to avoid "resource curse" of an economy based on oil production. Such economies do not regularly promote aspects of democracy.
I remember reading somewhere that Bangladesh banned foreign funding for non profit education many decades ago. So you think this is one of the reasons why Bangladesh has remained RELATIVELY secular than other Muslim countries of comparable wealth. Although migration into the Gulf countries for jobs has probably offset the benefit of the ban as these people learn political Islam from their Pakistani peers.
Yes that’s true. Russians left. But Kazakhs are still relatively gender equal
I think good explanations have been given. I leaked somewhere. With the arrival of the Soviets, women were also given voting rights. In this regard, the women of Central Asia gained the right to vote earlier than the women of Great Britain. How effectively women use these benefits is another matter altogether. Arabization in these societies is now at a high level.
Thank you! Can you please share examples of Arabisation?
I see it mostly in women's religious clothing. this same class is 60 or 70 percent different from 10 years ago in terms of behavior and dressing.
https://www.gazeta.uz/oz/2023/09/10/religion/
This is one of the last known disputes
Really interesting piece, insightful. I wonder how big a part Saudi Arabia has to play here. If it is genuinely liberalising under MBS (an open question), whether that may have a knock on effect to the rest of the Muslim world?
It got me thinking too about the development of Western Europe, as there would have been a time (not that long ago) where that part of the world was similarly in hock to religion and patriarchy. What did the powers that were around at the time do that dragged everyone along the road towards equality that the Soviets failed to do in much of Central Asia in the early and mid 1900s?
The comparison of the two countries post So it era is wonderful.
One question: whether or how were the Kazahks were able to avoid "resource curse" of an economy based on oil production. Such economies do not regularly promote aspects of democracy.