Abstract:
When shared ethnicity is not enough for co-ethnic migrants to adapt and
integrate into the co-ethnic society, considerations of different post-migration
adaptation methods and identity formation among Kazakh 'repatriates' of different
origins are essential. The thesis focuses on the adaptation strategies and identity
formation of Xinjiang Kazakhs. It examines how the social/cultural capital gained in
China helps Xinjiang Kazakhs find jobs in local Kazakh society and form their
identity. I implement the survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. As an
insider, I also use the semi-autoethnography method partly supplement the main
results. The main finding indicates that, for Xinjiang Kazakhs, Chinese language
skills, social networks, and knowledge gained from China or related to Chinese
culture, as their unique cultural and social capital, help them adapt to local
Kazakhstan society and help them to find a job. The secondary finding shows that
Xinjiang Kazakhs have a hybrid identity; their perceptions of their homeland are torn
between their birthplace in China and their living place in Kazakhstan. While some
still struggle with feeling 'in-between,' many of them create the 'third' space, defining
themselves as 'global citizens