Send message to Author

Abstract

The paper explores how various components of multiple identity relate to the boundaries of trust in Kazakhstan. The empirical basis is a secondary analysis of data from a mass sociological survey containing questions on civic orientation, ethnocultural traditionalism, linguistic competence, religiosity, institutional trust, and social distance.

Multiple identity is examined as a configuration of civic, ethnocultural, linguistic, religious, and territorial components that are differentially associated with intergroup trust and social distance. To operationalize it, civic orientation is analyzed through perceptions of civic belonging, the equality of citizens, and the significance of the civic nation. The ethnocultural component is revealed through ethnicity and the observance of traditions; the linguistic component is analyzed through the language of the interview and self-assessed proficiency in key languages; and the religious component is examined through self-assessed religiosity and attitudes toward religious coexistence.

The results indicate that a civic orientation is more frequently associated with higher intergroup trust. Respondents who strongly express civic belonging and an orientation toward citizen equality demonstrate greater trust in people of a different ethnicity or religion. However, this correlation does not imply an automatic reduction in social distance. A high assessment of civic unity can coexist with an unwillingness to live in the same neighborhood as certain groups, which may point to a distinction between civic solidarity as a normative attitude and the practical boundaries of social closeness.

The boundaries of trust in Kazakhstan are formed at the intersection of several lines of differentiation: ethnicity, migration status, religion, language, and territorial origin. At the same time, ethnocultural traditionalism is not always accompanied by social closure, and bilingual profiles demonstrate higher communicative openness compared to respondents with limited linguistic competence. Linguistic competence acts simultaneously as an identity marker and a resource for intergroup communication.

The paper contributes to the discussion on post-Soviet nation-building, social boundaries, and trust within the multi-ethnic societies of Central Eurasia. The main conclusion is that multiple identity in Kazakhstan has a multilayered character: while civic belonging contributes to the expansion of intergroup trust, the boundaries of trust continue to be shaped at the intersection of linguistic, religious, migration, and territorial differences.