KIRGIZ EDEBİYATINDA SOVYET REJİMİ ELEŞTİRİSİ
CRITICISM OF THE SOVIET REGIME IN KYRGYZ LITERATURE

Summary/Abstract: The development of socialist realism, a key literary approach used for party propaganda in the Soviet Union, occurred at the same time as the first steps of modern Kyrgyz literature. The introduction of the conflict-free theory increased monotony in literature, producing works centered around entirely positive and content characters. This shifted the focus of literature away from the individual’s inner life and towards the external realities shaped by the Soviet regime. However, the changes in the political conjuncture after the 1950s and the new writers who produced works brought a different perspective to socialist realism. Some writers continued to produce works under the prevailing oppression, benefiting from Soviet privileges and avoiding repercussions. Others, however, maintained their creative independence despite punitive measures and transformed their stance into a form of critique. This study explored the relationship between dominant literature and politics in Kyrgyz literature, focusing on literary evolution from its early stages. A sample of works from both pre- and post-independence periods was analyzed using content analysis, a qualitative research method. The findings reveal that both periods of literature feature critical perspectives on Stalinist policies and the flawed practices of the communist regime. During the Soviet era, Kyrgyz literature simultaneously served as a tool for party propaganda and a medium for implicit or realistic criticism of the Soviet regime. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, in the hands of more independent writers, historical realities, such as Stalin's colonial policies and repression, began to replace the fabricated narratives of Soviet propaganda, transforming literature into a platform for national identity construction.

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