In parallel to his research, Kamalov has established himself as a dedicated and highly respected educator. He is a professor at the Department of Regional Studies and International Relations at Turan University in Almaty, one of Kazakhstan’s leading institutions. His influence extends far beyond Kazakhstan. He has developed and organized summer schools at the Central European University (CEU) in Budapest, where he taught courses on nationalism and the rewriting of history in post-Soviet Central Asia.

In January 2026, Prof. Kamalov acted as an for a doctoral dissertation defense at the University of Oriental Studies in Tashkent (Uzbekistan). The dissertation examined the "Socio-economic foundations of the administration of the Turkic Kaganate." This participation opened new prospects for cooperation between his Center for Regional Studies and research centers in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Kamalov demonstrates how early localized, fragmented regional identities transformed into a cohesive national consciousness via the distribution of early literature, local newspapers, and travel chronicles. 4. The Challenges of Contemporary Central Asian Studies

Academic investigation into Xinjiang or contemporary Chinese ethnic policies has become highly sensitive. Local scholars must carefully balance their work with the multi-vector diplomacy and state interests of their home countries.

In his landmark paper, “Identity of Kazakhstan’s Uyghurs: Migration, Homeland, and Language,” published in Central Asian Affairs, Kamalov details a complex historical arc:

: An analysis of narratives surrounding the Eastern Turkistan Republic (ETR) established in the 1940s.

In the turbulent 20th century, when empires crumbled and borders were redrawn with blood, one man from a small Crimean Tatar village stood for something dangerous: .

The pursuit of authentic autonomy within the state, alongside the preservation of ethnic identity. 3. Historiography and Ethno-nationalism

He was honored with this annual award by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan for his significant contributions to historical sciences. Core Research Themes

is a prominent scholar specializing in Uyghur studies, ethnography, and history in Central Asia. Based in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Kamalov has significantly contributed to the understanding of the Uyghur community, focusing on topics such as identity formation, historiography, and the geopolitical dynamics affecting Uyghurs in Kazakhstan and China.

In the early hours of November 22, 2015, unknown saboteurs blew up four transmission pylons in the Kherson region of mainland Ukraine, effectively disconnecting the Crimean Peninsula from the Ukrainian power grid. For the 2.3 million residents of Crimea, the result was instantaneous: total darkness. Hospitals switched to generators, water pumps stopped, and the railway system ground to a halt.

The and historiography of Uyghurs in Kazakhstan and China.