The origin of Kazakh Zhuses: foreign studies

Abstract

The origin of the three Zhuses in Kazakh society is one of the most difficult problems of interdisciplinary re-search. The lack of historical sources related to the research topic makes it difficult to draw convincing con-clusions that are scientifically proven. However, there is a number of domestic and foreign studies. Foreign,especially Western, American researchers often associate the appearance of the three Zhuses with politicaland military factors. They support the perspective that at the first quarter of the sixteenth century, after thedeath of the Kazakh Khan Kasym, a political crisis began and the centralized state was divided into three ter-ritorial possessions between representatives of the ruling dynasty. Over time, depending on the geographicallocation of each Zhus, cultural and political influences of neighboring countries are observed in everyday life.It is assumed that the khan's power in the Senior, Middle, and Junior Zhuses maintained stability by territo-ries, and not by tribes. The structural system of the Zhuses becomes more complicated in the process of de-velopment and plays an important role in the organization and management of Kazakh society. The process offormation and development of the Senior Zhus, Middle Zhus, and Junior Zhus in the history of Kazakhstancan be divided into four chronological epochs. These include: subordination of genetically related tribes inone government; periods of formation and development and weakening of the role of the Zhuses in the politi-cal arena. The conclusions drawn on the research topic were based on historical sources and fundamental sci-entific works of domestic and foreign scientists. The causes of the emergence of Zhuses and its stages of de-velopment in Kazakh society have been studied in a new way based on the views and judgments of foreignresearchers