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Abstract

This study examines the three-decade trajectory of Kazakhstan’s ethnic return migration policy, focusing specifically on the institutional and legal evolution that has shaped the repatriation of ethnic Kazakhs (Oralman/Qandastar) since independence. Since the early 1990s, Kazakhstan has implemented one of the world's most proactive and sustained repatriation programs, driven by the dual imperatives of post-Soviet nation-building and demographic rebalancing in a multi-ethnic landscape. While the initial years of the program were characterized by urgent, often ad-hoc legislative frameworks designed to facilitate a rapid "return to the homeland," the policy has since undergone significant structural transformations.

The research traces this shift from early reactive measures toward a more sophisticated, centralized, and bureaucratic institutional apparatus. By analyzing the longitudinal development of the "Law on Migration" and its various amendments, the paper illustrates how the state has sought to codify the rights, quotas, and integration processes for returnees. Central to this analysis is the evolving role of state bodies, most notably the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, which has increasingly integrated migration management into broader national labor and economic strategies.

Furthermore, the study explores a critical ideological transition in state discourse: the move from a purely primordial, ethnic "homeland" narrative toward a more utilitarian and pragmatic approach. This shift reflects the state's attempt to reconcile the symbolic importance of the diaspora with the practical socio-economic challenges of integration, regional settlement patterns, and domestic labor market needs. By critically analyzing these institutional and discursive shifts, the paper provides a comprehensive overview of how Kazakhstan has navigated the complexities of managing a large-scale diaspora return. Ultimately, the study argues that the evolution of Qandastar policy serves as a primary lens through which to understand the broader project of strengthening sovereign statehood and national identity in contemporary Central Asia.