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Abstract

The life and integration of immigrants from Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region in the United States remain underexplored in academic literature. Beyond general census data, there is limited systematic statistical information on these communities. This study examines the socio-economic, cultural, and institutional characteristics of the Kazakh diaspora in the United States, with a particular focus on the risks of losing national identity. The research explores how members of the diaspora maintain cultural connections with Kazakhstan while navigating cross-cultural environments and transnational realities.

The study is based on sociological fieldwork conducted in 2024 using mixed methods, including online surveys (N = 300), in-depth interviews (N = 27), focus group discussions, and expert interviews. The findings suggest that while the Kazakh diaspora demonstrates a relatively high level of integration into American society, this process is accompanied by challenges such as language attrition, weakening of cultural practices, and generational identity shifts. The paper argues that the Kazakh diaspora represents a transnational community balancing between integration and cultural preservation. Without systematic institutional support, there is a significant risk of gradual identity erosion.

Keywords: migration, Kazakh diaspora, identity, transnationalism, assimilation, cultural preservation