CULTURAL ADAPTATION? MIGRATION FROM RUSSIA TO KAZAKHSTAN.

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the experiences of Russian migrants who came to Kazakhstan after the announcement of the mobilization process in Russia in 2022. The topic is relevant for modern Kazakhstan due to the novelty of the trend of people coming from Russia to Kazakhstan. The main suggestion of this study is that migrants from Russia may face limited acceptance from the local community which shapes their adaptation experiences in Kazakhstan. Using the qualitative research method in the form of semi-structured interviews and digital ethnography, I examine the challenges faced by Russian migrants and their strategies for adaptation. The findings indicate that migrants had a different experience in Kazakhstan; some of them could effectively adapt to professional and social aspects, and others struggled with social adaptation y. Gender also played an important role in shaping Russian migrants’ experiences in Kazakhstan. Males took more responsibility for documentation and accommodation and thus complained more about the difficult bureaucratic processes in the state. Females needed to adapt to the gender norms present in Kazakhstan. These findings point to the presence of certain stereotypes in Kazakhstan.