The Rise of Political Islam in Kazakhstan: Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami

Hizb ut-Tahrir is a transnational Islamic movement that aims to unify Muslims worldwide under a single Caliphate. The group presents a particularly difficult challenge to the Kazakh government since it holds radical views but advocates only peaceful change. The article shows how social movements theory can illustrate the emergence of Hizb ut-Tahrir in southern Kazakhstan. Furthermore, it suggests that the group's ideology can be understood as a powerful and integrative basis for collective action.