EN
From the time of independence, Kazakhstan authorities seek to shape the united people of Kazakhstan. One obstacle in this process is that 95 per cent of the population of Kazakhstan consists of the representatives of seven nations, and an additional difficulty is caused by the cultural diversity of Kazakhs. The article presents the results of analyses designed in order to gather information about the present state of national and historical consciousness of the young Kazakh intelligentsia, its relation to other ethnic groups, the changes taking place in the country and its culture. The results confirm that, despite 20 years of independence, in Kazakhstan there still is a large cultural difference between Russian- and Kazakh-speaking Kazakhs. However, one has to admit that the country after a period of strong influence of Russian culture is increasingly undergoing the process of Kazakhization. This process is irreversible, although Russian elements will still be visible.