Navigating Legal Challenges: Migrant Strategies and Temporalities in Kazakhstan

Abstract

This research investigates the experiences of migrants in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Specifically, it explores the strategies migrants use when they find themselves in vulnerable situation. Within the field of conflict studies, migration is often research in the spatial context of movement. As a result, the temporal dimension regarding migration is often overlooked. The research is driven by a central question: How do migrants in RK develop strategies to navigate the legal system using Giddens' structuration theory and Griffiths' experiential temporalities? The study examines the experiences of migrants, particularly those whose asylum claims are likely to be refused, and their use of legal mechanisms to extend their stay. The findings reveal that migrants strategically utilize legal mechanisms, such as asylum applications, to prolong their legal stay, demonstrating agency within a restrictive environment. This study underscores the significance of time as a crucial factor influencing migrant decision-making and highlights the complex interplay between structure and agency in the context of RK's migration laws. This research contributes to the broader discourse on migration by providing insights into the lived experiences of migrants in RK, emphasizing the importance of understanding the socio-legal dynamics at play. It sheds light on the challenges migrants face and the innovative strategies they employ to navigate a legal system that is often unaccommodating.