SOCIO-CULTURAL APPROACH IN THE STUDY OF STEPPE CIVILIZATION

The article reveals the notion of "steppe civilization" and various approaches to this historical and legal institution. Special attention is given to the theories of local civilizations and to an analysis of approaches presented by the Kazakh law school. The authors determine the definition of "steppe civilization", the prerequisites of its origin, the study of nomadic society as one of the kinds of civilization. The relevance of this legal institution is in the fact as one of the most unstudied in the history of law and state. The authors give a historical analysis of the researches which were carried out by various historians and state scientists in Kazakhstan. Special attention is paid to the researches of the Kazakhstani historian and state scientist 3. Kozybaev. His point of view is the basis of this research. On the basis of the Kazakh law school, the authors substantiate the advantages of the civilizational and cultural approach in studying the "steppe civilization", revealing the categories "nomadic civilization" and "steppe alternative".