Representation of Internal Migration and Migrants in the Kazakhstani Media Discourse: Strategies and Frames

Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has been undergoing a process of urbanization, characterized by a gradual increase in urban population. Major cities such as Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent attract rural populations and residents from other regions, becoming increasingly appealing. Unorganized and uncontrolled internal migration has led to social, economic, and infrastructural challenges in these metropolises. Such developments contribute to the growing discourse in Kazakhstan concerning internal migration. This paper examines the issue of representing internal migrants based on materials presented in leading Kazakhstani media on news websites and social media platforms. The study employs a critical discourse analysis (CDA) approach and analyzes elements such as tone and media discourse writing strategies. The relevance of this research lies in the rising scientific interest in the construction of discourse about internal migrants in media discourse, as the media directly influence the formation of the social image of internal migrants. The research analyzes both privately owned and state-owned media outlets. The results indicate that narratives in the Kazakhstani media discourse on internal migration are shaped by socio-economic indicators and government-led programs related to internal migration. In the first case, internal migrants are constructed as “arrivals” with low socio-economic status, burdening urban infrastructure and contributing to the creation of disadvantaged areas, commonly referred to as “ghettos” and “slums”. The second aspect is associated with a lack of state interest in constructing narratives about internal migrants, providing media representatives with the opportunity to independently shape these narratives. The only exception is some regional media outlets that create a positive discourse regarding government programs for internal migration. In such discourses, the emphasis is placed on how migrants who have undertaken internal migration have managed to improve their socio-economic status, thereby shaping the image of the internal migrant as a successful individual.