REPORT: Unstoppable. The decolonisation of Kazakhstan

Over the past three decades, Kazakhstan has undergone a profound social, demographic, and identity transformation. From a state deeply shaped by the Soviet legacy, it is becoming an increasingly self-aware political community, with a growing emphasis on “Kazakhness” and societal agency.

Since 2022, this process has clearly accelerated. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine has acted as a catalyst for debates on history, language, and identity, strengthening decolonization trends and increasing distance from Russia. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s authorities have cautiously emphasized the country’s distinctiveness, while balancing relations with Moscow and avoiding open confrontation.

Decolonization in Kazakhstan now has a dual character: it is both a top-down process managed by the state and a bottom-up intellectual and social movement that redefines historical memory and reinforces national identity. As a result, the state is losing its monopoly over shaping the national narrative, while society is becoming an increasingly active participant in its creation.

For external partners, this requires a shift in perspective: Kazakhstan is no longer merely part of the “post-Soviet space,” but a state consciously shaping its own agency and gradually distancing itself from its former metropole.

The full report explores:

• How demographic and linguistic changes have shaped societal identity,
• How the war in Ukraine has accelerated decolonization processes,
• What tensions arise from balancing between society and Russia.

We encourage you to read the latest Marcin Popławski’s article for The Opportunity!

Photo: Krzysztof Saternus / Marcin Popławski, Horses in the Kazakh mountains, from the author’s private archive.