Formation of Kazakh National Elites in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries

Abstract

Elites, as a social group, generate and implement progressive ideas in society. The formation of Kazakhstan’s national elite began in the first half of the 20th century, with access to secular education. Kazakhstan’s new progressive intelligentsia made significant changes in many areas of science, economy and culture. This article examines the prerequisites for the emergence and development of elites in Kazakhstan and describes their contribution to the political, cultural, and economic spheres.