Abstract

The article reveals the origins of the systemic crisis of the neoliberal model of multiculturalism. It is shown that the conceptual foundations and socio-political technologies of the neoliberal project of a multicultural society were unable to combine the principle of recognition and promotion of cultural diversity with the imperative of strengthening the civil-political, cultural, spiritual unity of the people. The search for a new model of nation-building and management of ethno-cultural diversity led to the emergence of the concept of interculturalism in the early 2000s. Interculturalism is considered by modern political theory as a kind of third way between the extremes of multiculturalism and the policy of assimilation. The article shows that the approaches and principles of interculturalism are consistently and effectively implemented in the national policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, having received institutional consolidation in the form of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan.