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Abstract

Building on the work of Rustamjon Urinboyev (2020), this study explores the "Digital Mahalla" among Uzbek migrants in Astana, Kazakhstan. While existing research focuses on the "home-host" link, this paper investigates how digital networks facilitate mediated brotherhood within the culturally proximate environment of Astana. The research examines how platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp reconstruct traditional kinship and hashar (mutual aid) in a city that shares Turkic roots and similar social structures with Uzbekistan. By framing the smartphone as a "psychological exoskeleton," the study proposes that this digital brotherhood provides ontological security, helping migrants navigate the nuances of the Kazakh capital. This project seeks to understand how shared cultural heritage and digital connectivity transform individual vulnerability into a strategic, collective resilience.