The Russia-Kazakhstan Borderland Outcomes: Exploring the Root Causes of Socio-Economic Asymmetries

Keywords: cross-border interaction, Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, borderland outcomes, economic migration, socio-economic asymmetry
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 65

Abstract

The Russia-Kazakhstan border was transformed from the internal attribute of administrative division to the international boundary of interaction and alienation following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. While thirty years later the border has evolved as interdependent, the multiple borderland transformations resulted in socio-economic asymmetries of outcomes. This paper explores the migration flow and employment asymmetries manifesting the intermingling and overlapping of the two cross-border societies based on the population statistics for the eleven Russia’s and seven Kazakhstan’s administrative borderland regions. The complex border-defined environment along the world’s longest continuous international border constructs asymmetrical spillovers of migration and economic outcomes on each side. The migration flow magnitude and direction are defined by multiple factors including regional integration programs, ethnic composition of cross-border participants, standard of living differences, educational and employment opportunities, as well as the most recent COVID-related restrictions. The impact of each factor on the degree of alienation or interaction, and the combined effects of all factors on the construction of asymmetric borderland relations and identities are being considered.