Construction of New Identities in Modern Kazakhstan: Trends and Reference Рoints

Abstract

The authors consider identity as the most important source of legitimization of the Kazakhstani statehood. The repertoire of new identities, the construction process of which continues in the Republic of Kazakhstan, includes national identity (that balances between civil and ethno-cultural elements), Turkic pan-identity, Central Asian geopolitical identity, Eurasian civilizational identity and macro-regional Caspian identity. The authors attempt to substantiate the contradiction between the goals and reference points outlined in state documents on identity policy and real trends and landmarks in the continuing process of identity construction in the modern Kazakhstan. The multivector foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan underpins the shaping of competing identities, with the Turkic identity developing most intensively. The growth of socio-political divisions (ethnic, confessional, settlement, etc.) produces a cumulative effect that makes Kazakhstan a “divided society”. The article examines the priorities of memory and language policies and reveals personalistic identifiers reflected in mass consciousness. The authors also focus on the contradictory nature of the ongoing identity policy as a challenge to societal security, considering that “split” social spaces may produce explosive conflict situations.