Abstract
The article provides a comprehensive historiographical analysis of the issue of Kazakh participation in the Peasant War of 1773–1775 led by E. Pugachev. It reviews scholarly works ranging from studies by Russian researchers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to contributions by domestic historians of the independence period. The article demonstrates that scholars have offered diverse interpretations of the socio-economic and political causes of the Kazakhs’ involvement in the uprising, reflecting differences in their source bases and methodological approaches. Particular attention is given to the comparative examination of the findings of V. A. Golikov, O. A. Chernyshev, A. P. Chuloshnіkov, M. P. Vyatkin, E. Bekmakhanov, M. K. Kozybayev, N. E. Bekmakhanova, Zh. Kasymbayev, and I. V. Yerofeyeva. The study emphasizes the significance of viewing the Pugachev movement in connection with the broader national liberation processes in Kazakh history. Furthermore, the article outlines the development of the historiography of the uprising, its unresolved issues, and possible directions for future scholarly inquiry.