Why Politicize Immigration? Elections and Anti-Immigrant Policy in Russia and Kazakhstan

Under what circumstances do autocrats politicize immigration and adopt anti-immigration policy? Much of the existing literature focuses on the politics of immigration in liberal democracies, despite the presence of large-scale immigration to illiberal societies. This research shows how different electoral dynamics can shape the politicization of immigration and policies distinctly, focusing on Russia and Kazakhstan. The ruling regime in Russia has actively adopted anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies whereas Kazakhstan has turned a blind eye to undocumented immigrants. I argue that such differences stem from the variation in pressures from the electorate. Putin and his United Russia party are subjected to significant pressure imposed by anti-immigrant citizens and political opponents. By contrast, Kazakhstan has been closer to a non-competitive form of authoritarianism, with the regime’s emphasis on inter-ethnic harmony. This research is based on analysis of original qualitative data, including interviews with government officials, NGOs, local scholars, and migrants, gathered from 11 months of fieldwork in the two countries in 2015–2017.