Scholars from Nazarbayev University (NU) have contributed to a new seven-volume academic series, History of Kazakhstan from Ancient Times to the Present Day, initiated in 2021 at the direction of the President of Kazakhstan. NU Assistant Professor Mikhail Akulov served on the series’ main editorial board and edited Volume Six, which covers the period from 1917 to 1991.
A total of 74 researchers, including 17 international scholars, contributed to Volume Six. The authors drew on materials from 81 archives across ten countries. The project also involved four NU faculty members and seven doctoral students from the Eurasian Studies programme.
Akulov reviewed materials for the series, helped bring international scholars into the project, co-authored the introduction to Volume Six and wrote two original texts on Kazakhstan’s 20th-century economy and historiography.
One of the editors’ main challenges was to bring dozens of individual contributions together into a coherent historical narrative. The international composition of the research team introduced a range of scholarly perspectives on Kazakhstan’s past and strengthened academic collaboration across borders.
In an interview with the El.kz news portal, Akulov discussed the work behind the seven-volume series, the principles of historical research, the role of peer review and the importance of critically evaluating sources. He also highlighted the contributions of young NU researchers, for whom the project offered an opportunity to apply their knowledge and gain experience working alongside leading historians.
Read the full interview on El.kz
Interview conducted and written by Dariga Bulat, NU Press Office.
