Abstract
This article examines the ideological foundations of nation-building in Russia and Kazakhstan following the collapse of the Soviet Union. It explores the specific features of the formation of national and civic identity within the context of multiethnic societies. Particular attention is paid to official concepts, state strategies, and mechanisms of social consolidation. Russia emphasizes civilizational unity, historical continuity, and state sovereignty, whereas Kazakhstan has developes a model of civic identity based on interethnic harmony and the principle of “unity in diversity”. The comparative analysis demonstrates that both models share common features related to the Soviet legacy and the pursuit of stability; however, they differ significantly in their ideological priorities and mechanisms of societal integration