Multiple Identities in the context of a Bipolar Society: the Kazakhstani model

Abstract

This article explores the complex process of forging national unity in the Republic of Kazakhstan, where the Kazakh ethnic group holds a demographic majority while multiple cultural and linguistic identities coexist. A historical analysis demonstrates that from the Soviet era to the present day, the relationship between Kazakhs and other ethnic groups has undergone significant changes due to collectivization, migration, the famine of the 1930s, and the policies of the independent state during the 1990s. Consequently, Kazakhs have moved from minority status to an absolute majority, strengthening their role as the “core nation” and facilitating the broad advancement of the Kazakh language and symbols. At the same time, the historically entrenched Russian-speaking environment continues to exist, resulting in the emergence of hybrid (multiple) identities. Many urban dwellers, including some of Kazakh origin, continue to use Russian in daily life, while national policy seeks to emphasize the priority of Kazakh culture. The article underscores that if the historical and demographic role of the Kazakh people is not recognized, multiple identities risk becoming a driver of social fragmentation. The state can effectively support bilingualism or multilingualism only if the “core nation” provides a solid framework for national cohesion.