Oralman

Oralman (Kazakh: Оралмандар, Russian: Оралманы), or "returnee" is an official term used by Kazakhstani authorities to describe ethnic Kazakhs who have immigrated to Kazakhstan since its independence in 1991.^[1] Oralman usually come from the neighbouring countries of China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and also from countries with notable Kazakh minorities: Iran (see Iranian Kazakhs), Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Distribution

Oralman typically settle in areas of Kazakhstan adjoining or near to their former homes, for reasons of climate and convenience; thus returnees from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are often found in the country's south, while those from China and Mongolia are concentrated in the east.^[2] The government prefers to settle them in the north of the country, and offers them more benefits; however, returnees themselves prefer regions where the Russian language is less important in every day life, particularly in the south.^[3]

Language

Oralman often face difficulty integrating into the labour market and with everyday communication due to insufficient command of the Russian language.^[4]

Oralman from China form the majority of teachers of the Chinese language at universities in Kazakhstan.^[5]

See also

• Kazakh exodus from Xinjiang

Notes

1. ^ Kueppers, Alfred (2004-04-22), "Ethnic Kazakhs Find Titular Homeland to be Economic Haven", Eurasianet.org, http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/culture/articles/eav042203.shtml, retrieved 2007-09-19 
2. ^ Tan, Vivian (2007-08-09), "After generations away, Kazakhs come home to an independent country", Reuters Alertnet, http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/UNHCR/2250a3890d68419099935f368a01164c.htm, retrieved 2007-09-19 
3. ^ "Special report on ethnic Kazakhs and the struggle to return - Continued", Reuters Alertnet, 2003-09-03, http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=20685, retrieved 2010-06-08 
4. ^ UNDP 2006, p. 23
5. ^ Laruelle & Peyrouse 2009, pp. 116–117

References

• Laruelle, Marlène; Peyrouse, Sebastien (2009), "Cross-border Minorities as Cultural and Economic Mediators between China and Central Asia", China and Eurasia Forum Quarterly 7 (1): 29–46, ISSN 1653-4212, http://www.isdp.eu/files/publications/cefq/09/LaruellePeyrouse.pdf, retrieved 2009-04-17 
• Status of Oralmans in Kazakhstan, Almaty: International Organization for Migration/United Nations Development Programme, 2006, http://www.undp.kz/library_of_publications/files/6838-29587.pdf 

Further reading

• Diener, Alexander C. (2005), "Problematic Integration of Mongolian-Kazakh Return Migrants in Kazakhstan", Eurasian Geography and Economics 46 (6): 465–478, doi:10.2747/1538-7216.46.6.465 
• Diener, Alexander C. (2009), One Homeland or Two?: The Nationalization and Transnationalization of Mongolia's Kazakhs, Stanford University Press, ISBN 9780804761918