Interethnic relations between the peoples of Northern Kazakhstan and their representation in Kazakh modern historiography

In the post-Soviet period, the ethnic composition of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan has changed significantly due to socio-economic and political reasons. The article focuses on the issues of development of interethnic relations in the northern part of the republic in historical retrospect, and the research methods of this topic by Kazakhstani scholars. The territorial framework is the North Kazakhstan and Akmola Regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Main sources: materials of ethnographic expeditions (interviews conducted by the author in 2023-2024), papers of Kazakh ethnographers and historians. The study highlights the main periods and formation stages of the ethnic composition of the population in the territory of Northern Kazakhstan, characterizes the interethnic relations of immigrants and the indigenous population at each stage. The proposed periodization has shown that the border territory of Northern Kazakhstan became a place of convergence of cultures of immigrants and the indigenous Kazakh population, while particularly close relationships developed before mass Soviet migrations (especially before resettlement during the years of development of virgin lands). As part of the study of the historiography of interethnic relations, it was revealed that the greatest attention is paid to the study of the history of the formation of the multiethnic population of Northern Kazakhstan, the modern ethnic composition of the population of the region, national identity and interethnic marriages. The article shows the connection of historiographical aspects with the socio-political situation in the republic. The issues of military and economic colonization of the Steppe region were topical in the studies of Kazakh historians in the 1990s, the immigration process was characterized negatively. Currently, a new vector of state policy has influenced the research topics, and the ideas of multiculturalism and internationalization have become popular.