Abstract

This article discusses the stages of emergence of religious radicalism in Kazakhstan and describes the internal and external factors which led to terrorist acts in the country and the relocation of entire Kazakh families to the war zones in the Middle East. The authors also look into the key questions related to the term “radicalization” which is widely used in academic literature. In this paper, this term is used as a shorthand for complex processes whereby certain individuals and communities may become extremist, militant and violent. Also, there is neither a generally accepted perception of a radical nor a straightforward path to radicalization, it is a kind of process to shape an individual’s worldview, and also is part of the socialization process. Notably, the empirical studies cited by the authors suggest that violent attitudes are not forced upon individuals.