Botakoz Shakeyeva

Botakoz Shakeyeva holds a PhD in Political Science from Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and currently serves as Associate Professor-Researcher at Turan University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Her research focuses on migration, national identity, and repatriation. She has completed academic internships at Columbia University and Pitzer College. She is the principal investigator of a postdoctoral project on the integration of kandas - ethnic Kazakh returnees - into Kazakhstani society.

The project

Title: Identification aspects of the kandas integration to Kazakhstani society

"This project investigates the integration of ethnic Kazakhs (kandas) who have returned to Kazakhstan from abroad, with particular attention to challenges of self-identification and societal acceptance. It combines narrative-biographical interviews with theoretical insights from identity studies and migration policy analysis. Fieldwork has been conducted in Kazakhstan, South Korea, and Germany to enable comparative analysis of return migration.

During her residency at the Eric Weil Institute, the researcher will explore return migration through the philosophical framework of Eric Weil — particularly his notions of reason, ethical responsibility, and the tension between universal and particular. This perspective provides deeper insight into why societies may struggle to integrate even their own returning members and how universalist principles may inform inclusive migration policy. The project will produce a chapter on normative theories of integration and foster academic dialogue with French scholars."

Hosting institution: The Eric Weil Institute, University of Lille

Selected bibliography

• Aitymbetov N., Bastaubayeva A., Shakeyeva B. Resettlement of Ethnic Koreans in South Korea: A Comprehensive Review// Bulletin of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. - 2024. - No. 2 (147). - P. 181–195. (in eng)
• Shakeyeva B.R., Tolen Zh.M., Nogaybaeva Zh.A., Tankova E. The role of language and education in self-identification and socio-economic integration of Kandases into Kazakhstani society//Bulletin of the Turan University. - 2024. - No. 2 (102). - P. 454-468. (in russ)
• Shakeyeva B.R., Bastaubayeva A.Zh. Classical and modern theories on the integration of migrants in the host country // Adam Alemi – 2023. - No. 2 (96). – pp. 112–119. (in eng)
• Thi Thanh L.N., Shakeyeva B., Bastaubayeva A. Problems of integration of kandas into kazakhstani society based on the results of field research // Al-Farabi - 2023. - No. 3 (83). – pp. 150-162. (in eng)
• Shakeyeva B.R., Shaikemelev M.S., Aitymbetov N.I. Tribalism in Kazakhstan: tradition reborn or social instrument. Central Asia and the Caucasus. English Edition, Volume 21, Issue 4, 2020. P. 33-41. (in eng)