Patterns of nationalism and national identity construction in Central Asian republics

The article is focused on the analyses of key patterns of local nation-building programs in Central Asia. On the level of particular states, the process of the constant shaping and negotiation of these programs by different social actors is perceived as a "small game" in which the reward is gaining hegemony and control over citizens of the state. Within the scope of the sociological approach, the patterns are analyzed with the assumption that there are continuing similarities with the nation- building process which was developed in the region during the Soviet period. The main focus of the analysis are two case studies – Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.