Defense of the dissertation of Farida Magauievna Musataeva for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the specialty «6D020400 - Cultural Studies»

L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Farida Magauievna Musataeva on the topic «Cultural Iandscape: research problems» by specialty «6D020400 - Cultural Studies».

The dissertation was carried out at the «Philosophy education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

The language of defense is kazakh

Official reviewers:

Aidina Ainur Kanapiyanovna - Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of General Education Disciplines, Astana IT University;

Kulumzhanov Nurzhan Erkenevich - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Senior Lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, K. Sagadiyev University of International Business.

Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:

Kusainov Daurenbek Umerbekovich - Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Political Science and Socio-Philosophical Disciplines, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University;

Sabitov Zhaxylyk Muratovich - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Director of the Scientific Institute for the Study of the Jochi Ulus;

Bigozhin Ulan Zeinullaevich - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Nazarbayev University.

Scientific advisors:

Medeuova Kulshat Agibaevna - Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Philosophy, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University;

Catherine Poujol - Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor at the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (Paris, France).

The defense will take place on May 31, 2025, at 11:00 in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D031 - Social sciences» in the specialty «6D020400 - Cultural Studies» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held online.

Link: https://clck.ru/3LfNtm 

Conference ID: 678 160 9970

Access Code: 12345

Email: quralai.sergabylqyzy@mail.ru

Address: Astana, K.Satpayev St, 2, academic and administrative building, room 302.

Abstract (English): General Characteristics of the research. In the 20th century, the concept of the cultural landscape evolved in an interdisciplinary context, becoming a tool for analyzing heritage, identity, and collective memory. Within the frameworks of Kazakhstan’s programs “Madeni Mura” and “Rukhani Zhangyru”, this concept played a key role in studying historical memory, sacred sites, and strengthening national identity. This research, based on fieldwork in the Ulytau region, examines the socio-political aspects of the cultural landscape and its integration into the humanities. Relevance of the Study. Kazakhstan’s ratification of UNESCO conventions (1994, 2003), along with the implementation of the “Madeni Mura” (2004-2011) and “Rukhani Zhangyru” (2017-2023) programs, has contributed to the preservation of historical and cultural heritage and the country’s integration into the global cultural space. The Ulytau region has become a significant symbolic space for the revival of national memory and a center for major historical and commemorative events. These initiatives have actualized cultural identity and historical continuity within the framework of Kazakhstan's ideological and scientific state policy. Object of the Study: national concepts of the cultural landscape in cultural studies. Subject of the Study: the interrelation of theoretical and practical approaches to the study of cultural landscapes. Research Aim: to reveal the heuristic value and practical applicability of the concept of the cultural landscape in studies conducted in Kazakhstan. Research Objectives: 1. To demonstrate the heuristic potential of the cultural landscape concept through the analysis of national schools and interdisciplinary studies; 2. To identify the relationship between historical memory, symbolic spaces, and cultural landscapes, and to analyze how the past is represented through spatial and material objects, practices, and sites of memory; 3. To explore the correlation between the concepts of cultural heritage and cultural landscape in the context of the “cultural turn” and UNESCO initiatives; 4. To study theoretical and methodological approaches to the cultural landscape in Kazakhstani academic literature; 5. To analyze the legal framework for the preservation of cultural heritage and Kazakhstan's state programs concerning the modernization of cultural policy; 6. To reconstruct the theoretical approaches used in implementing government programs and projects; 7. To analyze theoretical and practical challenges of conceptualizing and implementing the landscape approach using the Ulytau region as a case study. Research Methods: Given the interdisciplinary nature of the research, a comprehensive methodological approach was employed. The concept of “cultural landscape” was examined through classical analysis and various academic traditions. Documents on cultural policy, archival materials, and reports from research centers were analyzed. Fieldwork was conducted in the Ulytau region in 2020 and 2022, utilizing methods such as observation, description, mapping, and interviews, taking into account the perspectives of various stakeholders. The combination of theoretical and empirical methods helped verify research hypotheses and ensured the validity of the findings. Key Propositions and Findings: Proposition 1. The application of the landscape approach in cultural studies is characterized by an interdisciplinary methodological assemblage, moving from geographical to cultural interpretations. This approach unites national research traditions: the German school emphasized geographical differentiation; the French - historical revisionism; the American - semantic and cognitive aspects; the British - historical-geographical reconstructions and critical analysis of urbanized spaces. The Russian tradition focused on human geography with an anthropogeographic orientation. Together, these approaches conceptualize the cultural landscape as a multilayered space shaped by historical narratives, symbolic codes, and social practices. Proposition 2. The concept of “lieux de mémoire” is integral to the cultural landscape, representing symbolic and epistemological constructs shaped through narratives, commemorative rituals, and everyday practices. Sites of memory function as tools for legitimizing collective identity and as heritage assets. Proposition 3. UNESCO’s efforts to promote the concepts of cultural heritage and landscape have institutionalized them as methodological conventions. Their integration into international legal and methodological frameworks has facilitated the standardization of preservation practices, enabling Kazakhstan to align its policies with global heritage trends. The Ulytau cultural landscape is a candidate for inclusion on the World Heritage List. Proposition 4. In the Kazakhstani tradition, emphasis was historically placed on the ethnocultural aspects of the landscape. The current research broadens this scope to include commemorative concepts, aligning with the French commemorative approach while maintaining a focus on preserving historical and cultural memory. Proposition 5. The landscape approach in Kazakhstan’s cultural policy has enabled sacred sites to be reinterpreted not only as elements of historical legacy but also as strategic development resources. The revitalization of cultural landscapes has contributed to the actualization of collective memory and the inclusion of local communities in cultural policy processes, positioning Ulytau as a strategic cultural center. Proposition 6. A shift is evident from an object-centered focus to a broader landscape approach in cultural policy. This is reflected in regional branding, visual representation of memory, and reconstruction of mythological narratives in Ulytau. Such changes highlight the need for comprehensive heritage management that considers spatial context and community involvement. Proposition 7. The Ulytau case reveals methodological challenges related to institutional control over collective memory, terminological inconsistencies, fragmented management, and a lack of personnel and infrastructure. These issues underscore the need for an interdisciplinary management concept for cultural landscapes. Main Results of the Study: First result. The term “cultural landscape” emerged in 19th-century German geography and later evolved through various national academic traditions. Initially seen as a geographic object, the cultural landscape became an anthropological and sociocultural concept. Second result. Sites of memory serve not only as historical references but also as creative elements of social and cultural space, functioning as symbolic markers and contributing to regional development strategies. Third result. The “cultural turn” and UNESCO’s heritage initiatives contributed both to the theoretical development of the cultural landscape concept and to its consolidation in legal and practical frameworks. Fourth result. Post-Soviet Kazakhstani landscape studies emphasize axiological, geopolitical, and ideological aspects, aligning them more with nation-building than with geography per se. Fifth result. “Madeni Mura” employed an object-oriented approach focused on specific sites, while “Rukhani Zhangyru” emphasized infrastructural activation and landscape-based methodologies. Sixth result. Funding and management analysis reveals that sacred site initiatives have become zones of synergy between government, academia, and civil society, resulting in an inventory of memory sites. Seventh result. The implementation of the landscape approach in Kazakhstan reveals several issues: Theoretical Issues:  The polysemy of the concept of cultural landscape and the absence of a unified methodological framework in scholarly research;  The lack of clear differentiation between the object-centered and landscape-based approaches in the implementation of state programs and projects;  The potential politicization of the concept of the cultural landscape, which may compromise the epistemological validity and academic neutrality of research. Practical Issues:  An underdeveloped legislative framework for the application of cultural landscape concepts in cultural policy and heritage management;  The misalignment between the national legal framework and UNESCO’s international standards for cultural landscape governance;  Financial and infrastructural limitations that hinder the revitalization and sustainable management of cultural landscapes;  A shortage of qualified specialists and an insufficient research base in the field of cultural landscape studies. Novelty of the Research Findings: 1. A comparative analysis of German, Russian, British, French, and American traditions in cultural landscape studies (19th-20th centuries) has revealed an evolution from geographic to interdisciplinary interpretations, enabling adaptation to the Kazakhstani context. 2. The study traces the development of the cultural landscape concept from the Annales School to contemporary commemorative studies, highlighting methodological shifts in cultural spatial analysis. The inclusion of commemorative approaches expands analytical tools for studying memory-space interaction in Kazakhstan. 3. An in-depth analysis of UNESCO documents and their application in Kazakhstan identified legal gaps and provided mechanisms for adapting international standards to national legislation, enhancing legal protection of cultural landscapes. 4. The study reveals conceptual and managerial discrepancies between object-oriented (“Madeni Mura”) and landscape-based (“Rukhani Zhangyru”) programs, justifying the need for integration. It also traces the evolution of Kazakhstan’s cultural policy toward spatial heritage governance. 5. The landscape approach offers a deeper understanding of cultural landscapes as environments reflecting local identity. A cultural landscape is seen as both a natural and cultural space valued by social memory, shaped by mythological, historical, political, and anthropogenic processes. Its value is reinforced by adaptive processes in response to recurring challenges. 6. A reconstruction of the mechanisms of cultural landscape sacralization in Ulytau reveals a shift from object-based to landscape-based policy, highlighting the key role of local actors in shaping historical memory. Landscape modernization efforts in Ulytau aim to establish it as a national symbolic and unifying site. Theoretical and Practical Significance: This research provides a systematic and structured analysis of Kazakhstan’s cultural policy and legal frameworks. The study of cultural landscape concepts enables a deeper understanding of their structure, spatial function, and symbolic meaning. The findings can be used in teaching subjects such as “Cultural Anthropology,” “Cultural Policy,” and “Mass Culture Theory,” and can serve as a methodological foundation for governmental and civic projects related to cultural heritage. Alignment with Scientific and Government Programs: This dissertation aligns with one of the priority scientific areas of the Republic of Kazakhstan - “Intellectual Potential of the Country,” within the specialized field “Fundamental and Applied Research in the Humanities,” specifically paragraph 2.4: “Spiritual Shrines of Kazakhstan. Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan. Regional Studies.” Moreover, the research supports the objectives of strategic programs “Madeni Mura”, “Rukhani Zhangyru”, the “Tugan Zher” and “Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan” projects, the current legal framework for heritage preservation, and the Cultural Policy Concept of Kazakhstan for 2023-2029. Description of the PhD candidate’s contribution to each publication. The results of the dissertation research are reflected in 8 academic articles, where the applicant is the first author. I. Articles in international peer-reviewed journals indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus - 2 publications 1. Mussatayeva F., Malgarayeva Z., Issayeva M. “Places of Memory” as the Historical and Spiritual Values of the Kazakh Culture Regeneration // Trans/Form/Ação: Unesp journal of philosophy, Marília, v. 47, n. 2, “Feminine perspectives in philosophical thought”, e02400173, 2024. рр 1-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-3173.2024.v47.n2.e02400173 URL: https://www.scielo.br/j/trans/a/Mhy9ZbVdHDqCJgLjZnzpBnL/?lang=en The aim of the article is to explore the emerging ideological foundations of spatial representation within the cultural landscape of Kazakhstan. The study employs discourse analysis and structural-semiotic methods to examine key programmatic documents related to Kazakhstan’s cultural policy through the conceptual framework of Pierre Nora’s lieux de mémoire ("places of memory"). 2. Mussatayeva Farida, Kuralay Yermagambetova, Saira Shamakhay, Zhazira Baisarina, and Tolganay Mustafina. 2024. “Possibilities of Legal Regulation of the Conservation of Sacred Places Within the Cultural Landscape: The Case of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization 14 (1), 2024. рр. 92-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32350/jitc.141.06. URL: https://journals.umt.edu.pk/index.php/JITC/article/view/5127 The article identifies key challenges in the implementation of legal norms for the protection of cultural landscapes and proposes potential solutions to address them. The research is based on structural-logical analysis and qualitative analysis of expert interviews, incorporating Kendall’s coefficient of concordance to rank the primary issues associated with the implementation of international legal standards for the preservation of cultural landscapes in Kazakhstan. 3. Mussatayeva F.M. The Cultural Symbolism of the Ulytau Landscape // Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Series: Historical Sciences. Philosophy. Religious Studies, 2022, Vol. 139, No. 2, pp. 199-217. DOI: 10.32523/2616-7255-2022-139-2-199-217 4. Mussatayeva F.M., Yermagambetova K.S. The New Ideology of Space in Kazakhstan’s Cultural Landscape // Human and World, 2022, No. 4 (94), pp. 30-45. DOI: 10.48010/2022.4/1999-5849.04 5. Mussatayeva F.M. Commemorative Policy in Independent Kazakhstan // Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov ENU. Series: Historical Sciences. Philosophy. Religious Studies, 2022, Vol. 141, No. 4, pp. 202-217. DOI: 10.32523/2616-7255-2022-141-4-202-217 6. F.M. Musatayeva, K.S. Yermagambetova. The concept of “places of memory” by pierre nora: practices of commemoration // KazNU Journal. Philosophy, Cultural Studies and Political Science Series. - . 2022. Vol 80. - No 2. - 92-100 рр. DOI: 10.26577/jpcp.2022.v80.i2.09 7. Mussatayeva F.M. Local cultural memory of Ulytau: the sacralisation of the area by means of symbolic forms encoding // Bulletin of the L.N. Gumilyov ENU. Historical sciences. Philosophy. Religion Series. 2024. ‒ Vol. 146. ‒ №. 1. ‒ P. 248-268. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-7255-2024-146-1-248-268 In these articles, the author examines the trends of cultural landscape revitalization in the Ulytau region, commemorative policies, and practices in Kazakhstan, as well as their influence on the processes of national identity formation and nation-building. The research employs a hermeneutic and axiological approach, along with contemporary methods of interpretation and representation widely used in the socio-cultural sciences. 8. Mussatayeva F.M. The Emergence of Pierre Nora’s Concept of “Lieux de Mémoire” // Modern Science: Problems, Ideas, Trends. Proceedings of the International Scientific and Practical Conference, Ed. A.I. Vostretsov. - Prague, Czech Republic: Vydatel “Osviceni”, RIO NIC “World of Science”, 2019. - pp. 561-565. https://elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=36990631 The article analyzes the origins and development of Pierre Nora’s concept of “lieux de mémoire” (places of memory) and its theoretical relevance for the study of commemorative practices and symbolic spaces in contemporary cultural policy. The author applied a historical and philosophical approach to contextualize the emergence of the concept within broader intellectual trends in the humanities. Structure of the Dissertation The structure of the dissertation corresponds to the research aim and objectives and consists of the following components: an introduction; three main chapters (the first chapter includes four subsections, while the second and third chapters consist of two subsections each); a conclusion; a list of references; interview guides for in-depth interviews; and visual materials from field research. The total length of the dissertation is 145 pages. The list of references includes 237 sources, with 34 citations of legal and regulatory documents. Appendix A contains the guides for in-depth interviews, and Appendix Ә presents the visual materials from the fieldwork.

Dissertation

List of Scientific Works

Consultant's Review

Foreign Consultant's Review

Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee