Abstract

This study investigates public perceptions of the nation-building process in Kazakhstan, focusing on how demographic changes and linguistic dynamics shape attitudes toward the titular nation’s majority status, as well as the status of other ethnic groups residing in the Republic. A survey of 1,200 respondents across multiple regions was conducted via face-to-face interviews. Results indicate a prevailing opinion among respondents that Kazakhs should maintain demographic majority in their homeland, while a significant segment acknowledges historical complexities surrounding the demographic developments in the Soviet era, when the Kazakh SSR was the sole republic where the titular nation was not the majority. Still, many respondents also recognize the enduring significance of the Russian-speaking population, which points to a need for a balance between promoting the Kazakh language and adherence to multilingualism. Despite nearly universal view of Kazakhstan as the homeland, varying degrees of agreement emerge among respondents regarding obligatory Kazakh-language competence and whether Russians should be viewed as a national minority. Research findings highlight the interplay of historical memory, cultural revival, and practical socioeconomic factors in shaping contemporary views on the nation-building process in Kazakhstan. Further qualitative research is recommended to identify how individuals navigate multiple linguistic and ethnic affiliations within a consolidated civic identity.