In the last dialogue in this series, Zhuldyz Zhumashova explores how the sense of belonging and social acceptance of Kazakh returnees from Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia have transformed over time.
In 1992, Kazakhstan’s then-President Nursultan Nazarbayev called for Kazakhs abroad to return to their ancestral homeland during the First International Qurultay of Kazakhs. This state-led initiative has since facilitated the return of nearly two million ethnic Kazakhs. However, the integration of these returnees – often referred to as Qandas – into Kazakh society has been uneven, shifting over the years from social exclusion to gradual accommodation.
This research explores the evolving experiences of returnees from Uzbekistan, China and Mongolia, focusing on how their sense of belonging and societal acceptance have transformed over time.
Drawing on qualitative interviews, surveys, cultural analysis and policy reviews, Zhumashova examines the ways return migration intersects with notions of ancestral citizenship, national identity and the politics of belonging.
The study underscores the importance of inclusive cultural policies and sustained community dialogue in shaping integration processes, and offers policy recommendations that may resonate beyond the Kazakhstani context.
Speaker
Zhuldyz Zhumashova - PhD student in the Department of Anthropology at Texas A&M University.
The other webinars in the series
- More information
ACE Dialogues: Going Back to Go Forward series explores ancestral citizenship, the practice of granting citizenship based on descent or historical restitution to individuals living abroad.
At a time of shifting migration policies and reckonings with historical injustice, we will examine how this phenomenon reshapes migration and challenges conventional ideas of nationhood.
- Related links
- Ancestral Citizenship Acquisition in Europe research project