Kazakhstan: The Ethnic Controversy

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Kazakhstan: The Ethnic Controversy
The Kazakhstan nation provides an interesting social setting compared to the United States. This is because Kazakhstan offers a social role-reversed setting, where the majority is discriminated against. Currently, in the United States, White-American dominance is threatened, specifically by the growth of the Hispanic population. In Kazakhstan, the ethnic Kazakh majority has been suppressed due to the domination of the Russian language. Research on linguistic studies has shown, “language conflict is a result of ideologies that determine the goals of society” (Smagulova, 2006, p308). As Russian became the dominate language in schools, knowledge of the language became key to social mobility. Although there have been several attempts in Kazakhstan to restore the national language, all proposals have been seen as discriminatory. Despite the language conflict in Kazakhstan and Kazakh expressed concerns for more privileges. Ethnic stratification remains weak. Survey results have shown that income, occupational and educational levels between Kazakhs and Russians remain marginal (Smagulova, 2006). Even though disparity in Kazakhstan does not incorporate ethnic identities, the dominate use of the Russian dialect has constructed a stratification system that has left Kazakh’s marginalized.
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia. Ethnic Kazakh consists of a blend of “Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes that migrated into the region in the 13th century” (Central Intelligence Agency, n.d, Kazakhstan Background). Today, Kazakhstan has evolved into an ethnically diverse nation with 126 ethnic groups and languages. According to the 2009 Census, the ethnic diversity within Kazakhstan consist...

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... ethnic discriminatory practices. One of the noted differences of Kazakhstan’s ability to maintain ethnic pluralism has been its ability to create a system that does not differentiate base on individual ethnic origins. Even though linguistic difference did create a system of discrimination, the measure of socioeconomic achievement amongst groups was minimal. Today, titular elite’ control of the government has enforced the use of korcnizatsiya policy. The defined differences as well as control that come from such political agendas have created a security threat to Kazakhstan’s new statehood by other ethnic groups receiving help from their homelands. This creation of a system were noted difference between ethnic groups’ opportunities and resources become apparent, has left many experts skeptical if Kazakhstan will be able to maintain ethnic pluralism and harmony.

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