With the transition from Soviet Marxist interpretations to internationally recognized approaches in Kazakh historical studies, there is an increasing need to reassess key historical issues through new theoretical lenses, such as the nation-building process in pre-Soviet Kazakhstan. While many recent studies draw on Benedict Anderson’s concept of nationalism, which emphasizes the role of print capitalism in shaping national identity, its relevance to the Kazakh context remains debatable. This paper revisits foundational questions about the origins of Kazakh nationalism by re-evaluating both classical and lesser-known theories of nationalism. The goal is to assess how each theoretical framework explains the unique historical trajectory of Kazakh national identity formation. The paper’s originality lies in its systematic application of classical theories to a non-Western case, offering deeper insight into the emergence of Kazakh nationalism. By doing so, it highlights the complexities of nationalist movements shaped by both colonial influences and internal socio-political transformations.