Kinship and Social Identification in Southeastern Kazakhstan: the relevance of patrilineal descent in economic and social life
A Mongolian repatriate (wearing a hat) and his “local” wife (left) are hosting his maternal aunt (second from left) and her son (on the right) on their first visit to Kazakhstan
Zarina Mukanova is conducting research in a small village in southeastern Kazakhstan where due to the closeness to the Chinese border a huge wave of Chinese and Mongolian Kazakh repatriates – oralmans – live. This area is known for its internal diversity within Kazakh society. Her research determines to what degree and in which way descent and marriage alliance, which have historically been of central importance in structuring social relations among Kazakhs, still serve or serve once more to integrate Kazakhs. In the remaining fieldwork period a KNQ-ego-centred survey will ask questions about ego, his/her kin and affines and his/her non-kin that also play an important role in his/her life.