The Role of National Values in Interethnic Marriages in Turkestan

The present study focuses on the importance of national values in inter-ethnic marriages within the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan, specifically in the rural villages of Zhana Iqan, Shornak, Turki Poselkasy, Hantagy, and Sayram. The study explores three primary areas: the significance of preserving national values within inter-ethnic families, attitudes toward marriage involving children of different nationalities, and the participants’ acceptance of the national values and social norms of their spouse. Drawing from 85 interviews and observational data, the analysis presented here examines the role of national values in shaping family dynamics, focusing on Kazakhs as the main ethnic group as well as their cultural integration with Uzbeks, Azerbaijanis, and Russians. The findings highlight how Kazakh values influence family structures and foster adaptive frameworks through cultural blending. Drawing on anthropological and sociological theories, the research demonstrates how inter-ethnic marriages in Turkestan create a dynamic interplay of traditions, promoting unity and coexistence in the region. The mixed-methods approach utilized in the study combines qualitative data from interviews and participant observations with quantitative data, offering a comprehensive view of how these values are preserved and negotiated. The findings open up that national values are not only fundamental to inter-ethnic marriages but also promote mutual understanding, adaptation, and respect between partners from different ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, the study emphasizes the significance of the "dominant spouse" in upholding and negotiating these values, providing insight into how cultural expectations are maintained and adapted within the realities of inter-ethnic family life in the Turkestan region.