The Settlement Process of Ethnic Kazakhs in Karaganda Region (1991-2001)

Abstract

This article examines the ethnic repatriation policy implemented in the Republic of Kazakhstan during the first decade following the country’s independence, using the Karaganda region as a case study. At the beginning of the 1990s, Kazakhstan experienced large-scale migration processes resulting from the socio-demographic crisis, the reconfiguration of state borders, and transformations in interethnic relations across the post-Soviet space. A key component of these processes was the return of ethnic Kazakhs from abroad to their historical homeland. The study analyzes the dynamics of migration quotas, the geography of settlement, the socio-economic adaptation of repatriates, and the specific procedures for acquiring legal status between 1991 and 2001. Based on archival documents and official statistical data, the research identifies the institutional formation of repatriation policy, its regional implementation mechanisms, and its social implications. The findings demonstrate that the majority of ethnic Kazakhs arriving in the Karaganda region were repatriates from Mongolia, while those from the CIS countries predominantly migrated independently and without state quotas. The novelty of this research lies in its comprehensive historical approach, viewing repatriates’ settlement and adaptation as a complex socio-historical process and systematically analyzing the specific features of regional migration policy for the first time. The results indicate that the effectiveness of repatriation policy was directly dependent on the quality of the country’s social infrastructure, economic conditions, and legal frameworks. The examination of archival sources and foreign scholarly works also made it possible to identify the comparative advantages of Kazakhstan’s repatriation experience in relation to international practices. The findings have practical relevance for enhancing Kazakhstan’s current migration policy, developing effective mechanisms for the social adaptation of repatriates, and planning regional ethno-demographic development strategies.