Constitutional construction of a unified nation in Kazakhstan: a discourse analysis of the 2026 constitutional draft

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the fundamental transformation of nation-building models in the Republic of Kazakhstan, viewed through the prism of updated constitutional discourse. Amidst escalating global challenges and systemic internal reforms, the issue of social consolidation around a unified civic identity becomes critically important for ensuring the stability of statehood. The aim of the study is to identify and systematize the mechanisms of symbolic construction of a «unified nation» in the 2026 Draft Constitution in comparison with the current 1995 Basic Law.

The methodological basis of the work is qualitative comparative discourse analysis. During the research, key semantic markers such as «nation,» «unity,» «justice,» and «responsibility» were deconstructed, along with the contextual use of new ideologemes like «Law and Order» and «Ädılettı Qazaqstan» (Just Kazakhstan). The theoretical framework of the study relies on B. Anderson's concept of the «imagined community,» R. Brubaker's «nationalizing states,» and A. Smith's ethnosymbolic approach.

The main results record a radical «temporal turn» in official discourse: a transition from retrospective legitimation based on «historical destiny» to a prospective model based on «historical responsibility» for the country's future. The scientific value of the work lies in the conceptualization of the state's new role as a proactive «architect of meanings,» implementing «civic nationalization.» This concept implies the transformation of the state from a neutral «arbiter» of interethnic relations into a «monopoly producer» of collective identity, where civic loyalty is ensured not by ethnic affiliation, but by participation in a single politico-cultural standard and shared institutional values. The practical significance of the research outcomes lies in the possibility of using the obtained data to improve state policy in the sphere of interethnic relations and to strengthen civic solidarity.

Keywords: unified nation, constitutional discourse, nation-building, identity, civic nationalization.