Building the Bonds: A Comparison of Diaspora Engagement Policies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Abstract

Diaspora are thought to have political, economic, and social potential in both home and host countries. They are a source of economic investments and remittances for home countries, which can account for a significant portion of a country’s GDP in some cases. The diaspora’s expertise, knowledge, and skills can help social and cultural development in the country of origin. To gain access to these economic, social, and political resources, countries of origin develop diaspora engagement policies and incorporate the diaspora into national political discourse. Central Asian countries are developing relationships with diasporas and compatriot communities, as well as implementing state diaspora engagement policies, while taking diaspora capacity and migration outflow into account. However, the historical, political, economic, and social characteristics of the region’s countries have an impact on policy content and implementation. This paper investigates and compares the main characteristics of Central Asian countries’ diaspora policies, as well as seeks to comprehend and reveal the nature of the state governance system’s impact on diaspora relations. Two Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have been chosen as case studies to examine with document analysis methodology from 2016 to the present, as this period coincides with policy activation in both countries.