“Where is Our Honor?” Sports, Masculinity, and Authority in Kazakhstani Islamic Media

2019/05/13 by Ulan Bigozhin · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies #Soviet and Russian History #Sports, Gender, and Society

paper · doi:10.1163/22142290-00602006

openalex publication_date 2019/05/13 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

This paper examines the construction of Islamic authority in Kazakhstani online media. I build on the growing scholarship in Central Asian studies that questions the logocentric nature of Islamic authority, even for scripturalist Muslims. Taking the YouTube channel of Abdughappar Smanov as a case study, I argue that some scripturalist preachers in Kazakhstan construct their Islamic authority by tapping into Soviet, Kazakh, and global currents of masculinity and sport.

Cited by

• Islam in Kazakhstan [wikipedia]

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