Using reading materials and lectures, write a response assessing the success of
the Alash intellectuals in mobilizing ordinary Kazakhs to their cause.
The Alash Party successfully mobilized and attracted ordinary Kazakhs, even if
their members were repressed and were facing many problems themselves. Getting
support from ordinary people was important for them in order to build a developing
nation and to fight for independence. As any other goal, to be achieved they had to use
many different methods and techniques that are going to be discussed further.
According to the Collection of Documents on the Qazaqs in the Revolutionary
Period, the Alash party tried hard to provide Kazakh people with all favorable conditions,
including: education, safety and security, balanced taxes and fair conditions for poor
people. They were concerned about the quality of life of ordinary people and so built
schools and promoted education in Kazakh language and stood up for people’s rights.
By doing so, and many other great deeds, the Alash party intellectuals indeed
succeeded in mobilizing ordinary Kazakhs to their cause.
Unfortunately, the fear of the Russian Empire (later Soviet Union) blocked many
Kazakhs from openly supporting the Alash movement. Moreover, internal divisions and
the policies of the Soviet Union towards national movements were another barrier for
the Alash party to achieve their main goal of building an independent nation. Even
though they succeeded in mobilizing Kazakh people, the factors mentioned above
resulted in the weakening of the Alash movement.
To sum up, the Alash party successfully attracted Kazakh people to their cause,
however did not achieve their goal of establishing a developing and independent nation.
Nevertheless, each member of the Alash party is respected and remembered by the
Kazakh nation, and Alash Orda itself is a praiseworthy symbol for every Kazakh.