Cultural Values as an Indicator of Inter-Ethnic Harmony in Multicultural Societies

Abstract

For any country, the concept of “value” is a vital factor toward sustainable, spiritual, and moral development. At the same time, the preservation of “value” is a complex social phenomenon that must overcome a number of adverse conditions such as the destruction of values in general, the lack of understanding among people, and the failure of accepted norms. This study focuses on the essence of value as an indicator of inter-ethnic harmony in a multicultural society by using the country of Kazakhstan as an example. In general, changes ranging from subtle to extreme can occur for both individuals and ethnic groups in response to historical and cultural changes in society. However, Kazakhstan is unique among all the countries from the former Soviet Union in regard to such changes. With more than 130 ethnic groups, the country has successfully managed to welcome the influx of immigrants and successfully preserve peace and harmony among its residents. In addition, there is political stability among its ethnic groups and an overall tolerant attitude that can only be based on the concept of value at both the cultural and spiritual level.