Project: Slavic converts to Islam in contemporary Kazakhstan

The project explores religious conversion processes to Islam, as well as the relationship between religion and ethnicity in identity formation. Previous studies on Muslim converts have focused on the Western world, but this project addresses Muslim converts in Central Asia. In this regard, the project is unique.

The study is based on participant observation, informal conversations, and more formal interviews with individuals of Slavic background who have chosen to become Muslims. The study is conducted in urban areas with a large proportion of inhabitants of Slavic origin. "Slavic background" refers here to people who identify themselves as "Slavs" or use other labels related to the Slavic linguistic area, such as "Russian," "Ukrainian," "Belarusian," "Polish," and similar. The qualitative research method focuses on the participants' expressed personal experiences and stories. In addition to semi-structured interviews and conversations, data is collected through participant observation in activities connected to Muslim communities. All data collection takes place outside of Sweden, but most of the data analysis is conducted in Sweden.

The project is linked to Islamic studies, religious studies, and anthropology and is affiliated with the Graduate school in Islamic studies. The research is expected to contribute new knowledge in studying religious conversion, Islam in Eurasia, and the relationship between religion and ethnic identity. The ambition is for the research to provide new insights into how ethnicity, religion, and culture are intertwined in Kazakhstan, and for the results to contribute to the broader academic discussion on religious conversion and the negotiation of ethnic identity. The research will also fill a significant gap in the scientific study of Islam’s multifaceted and complex role in societies in often overlooked Central Asia. In the future, other researchers may build on this knowledge to explore further aspects of Slavic Muslim identity in other former Soviet states.

The project is part of the research in the Graduate school in Islamic studies