<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The aim of this paper was to find out how the ethnic identity of Russians residing in Kazakhstan has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. What qualities and characteristics distinguish ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan now? What are the main factors shaping their identity? To what extent Russians see aligned with their homeland and with the mainstream Kazakh society. What is the role of Russia in promoting a sense of attachment to the homeland? The case of Kazakhstani Russians was analyzed applying the various methods of qualitative research, including surveys, in-depth interviews, content analysis of the publications, and the speeches of political figures and activists. In addition, the methods of participant observation helped in understanding the cultural differentiation of the Russian religious organizations in Kazakhstan. The research revealed the significant changes in the identity patterns of ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan, which resulted from the process of consolidation of the vigorous state-protected ethnic Kazakh identity. Losing the previous dominant position in demography, the Russians bowed to the inevitable Kazakhification of the society. The change in the language preferences shows that the new generation of Russians is gradually accepting the new trend – Kazakh–Russian bilingualism – which is being promoted and implemented by the government of Kazakhstan and by the overwhelmingly ethnocratic Kazakh political elite.</p></abstract>

The aim of this paper was to find out how the ethnic identity of Russians residing in Kazakhstan has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. What qualities and characteristics distinguish ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan now? What are the main factors shaping their identity? To what extent Russians see aligned with their homeland and with the mainstream Kazakh society. What is the role of Russia in promoting a sense of attachment to the homeland? The case of Kazakhstani Russians was analyzed applying the various methods of qualitative research, including surveys, in-depth interviews, content analysis of the publications, and the speeches of political figures and activists. In addition, the methods of participant observation helped in understanding the cultural differentiation of the Russian religious organizations in Kazakhstan. The research revealed the significant changes in the identity patterns of ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan, which resulted from the process of consolidation of the vigorous state-protected ethnic Kazakh identity. Losing the previous dominant position in demography, the Russians bowed to the inevitable Kazakhification of the society. The change in the language preferences shows that the new generation of Russians is gradually accepting the new trend – Kazakh–Russian bilingualism – which is being promoted and implemented by the government of Kazakhstan and by the overwhelmingly ethnocratic Kazakh political elite.

Ethnic Identity of Kazakhstani Russians: The Dynamics of Change and the Place of Russia as a Kin State

Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The aim of this paper was to find out how the ethnic identity of Russians residing in Kazakhstan has changed since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991....

Word/frequency	Years
Word/frequency	2015	2012	2009	2006
Russia	683	718	1,014	1,143
Compatriot	606	778	1,343	1,532
Russian	231	240	300	1,232
Russian language	78	136	135	377
Unite/unify	51	53	65	126
Motherland	56	56	59	84

Ethnic Identity of Kazakhstani Russians: The Dynamics of Change and the Place of Russia as a Kin State

Published Online: Jul 12, 2019

Page range: 67 - 89

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jnmlp-2019-0004

Keywords
ethnic identity, Kazakhstani Russians, Kazakhstan, nation building, Kazakhification, Kazakh–Russian bilingualism

© 2019 Mukhtar Senggirbay, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The words frequently used in the speeches of the Congress of Russians Compatriots (2006–2015)

Ethnic Identity of Kazakhstani Russians: The Dynamics of Change and the Place of Russia as a Kin State

Published Online: Jul 12, 2019

Page range: 67 - 89

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jnmlp-2019-0004

Keywordsethnic identity, Kazakhstani Russians, Kazakhstan, nation building, Kazakhification, Kazakh–Russian bilingualism

© 2019 Mukhtar Senggirbay, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The words frequently used in the speeches of the Congress of Russians Compatriots (2006–2015)

Keywords
ethnic identity, Kazakhstani Russians, Kazakhstan, nation building, Kazakhification, Kazakh–Russian bilingualism