15.1 Formation of comparative politics in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstani political science emerged only with the acquisition of state sovereignty of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the processes of democratization have revealed a huge demand for the ideological justification of reforms in our country, and in this regard, political science, including comparative political science, has played an important role.
Given the importance of the interdisciplinary approach used to analyze the transition states and the multilevel action of the factors of different historical duration, rhythm and dynamics of political changes conditioned by the reflection; there should be noted a significant contribution of Kazakhstani scientists: philosophers, sociologists, lawyers, cultural studies scholars and historians to Kazakhstan’s political science in terms of solving the problems of socio-political development of the country and transforming the political regime.
There are singled out four stages in the development of political science in Kazakhstan (each lasting 6-7 years):
1) 1988–1995 – a stage of social reconstruction of political science, the institutionalization of political science, when the teaching of the discipline was ahead of the development of science;
2) 1995–2001 – a stage of growth of research in the field of political knowledge, when the number of defended dissertations and published monographs started to grow into quality;
3) 2001–2009 – a stage of self-determination of political science, determination of its place in the system of social studies, when the professional community began to make attempts to consolidate;
4) 2009 – present time – a stage of inclusion in the world community of political scientists.
Of course, the borderline of the proposed periodization is conditional.
The first period. First, one should not imagine that political science has developed since Kazakhstan gained independence.
Political science existed in Soviet Kazakhstan as well. Except, it could exist only within those generalizations and conclusions that were made in due time by K. Marx, F. Engels and V. I. Lenin. One of the main reasons that hampered the development of socio-political sciences at that time was dogmatism, separation of theory from practice, and backwardness from the achievements of world science.
Considering that science is a social phenomenon, since the mid-1980s the policy of restructuring social and public relations in the USSR could not but cast socio-political and humanities into a crisis. Teaching of socio-political sciences was proclaimed a practical force of restructuring.
It was necessary to bring it in line with world standards.
In parallel, there was a process of formation and strengthening of university chairs, among which the Department of Political Science of al-Farabi KazNU under the leadership of Professor T. Mustafin was distinguished by its activity. The first branches of political science were opened (at KazSU and ASU named after Abai). The attention to the new science, which allowed expanding the range of ideas about the world of politics, i.e. political science, grew not only due to the efforts of scholars, it was conditioned by the emerging demand on the part of both state authorities and society.
The second period. By the mid-1990s, the first dissertations on political science were defensed in Kazakhstan, a number of textbooks and handbooks were published, new departments of political science were formed. Scientific and analytical centers were actively included in the development of political science: the Analytical Center under the Presidential Administration (M. Tazhin), the Supreme Council (M. Arenov), KISS (U. Kasenov), Development Institute (E. Aryn), KISEIP (S. Zhusupov). Then the torch was picked up by the Central Asian Agency for Political Studies (E. Karin, D. Satpaev). Fundamental research was carried out by the staff of the Institute of Philosophy and Political Science (A. Nysanbaev). Financial support was provided by the “Eurasia” Foundation, “Soros-Kazakhstan” Foundation, F. Ebert Foundation.
Public associations were also created on a professional basis: the Academy of Political Science of Kazakhstan, ASP of Almaty, the Association of Teachers of Political Science. However, only the ASP (B. Bekturganova) turned out to be a long-term association.
There were many interesting works, books and articles in the magazines “Mysl”, “Sayasat”, “Eurasian community”, “ContinenT”, “Eurasia”, “Analyst”. In 1998, the “Kazakhstan Political Science Encyclopedia” has been published under the editorship of Professor T. Mustafin.
The third period. At this stage, the important milestones became the First Congress of Political Scientists of Kazakhstan and the formation of the Kazakhstan Association of Political Science (KAPS) in 2001, N. Masanov has been elected the president of the latter.
The main priority of the Kazakhstan Association of Political Science was the consolidation of a professional political science community. The solution of this problem presupposed a constant and purposeful work on the implementation of a whole series of other interrelated priorities:
– approval of professional and ethical standards;
– development of the infrastructure of the community of political scientists;
– development of scientific foundations and traditions of Kazakhstani political science;
– development of political education and teaching of political science;
– increase of the expert value of domestic political science.
Unfortunately, for various objective and subjective reasons, these tasks have not been fulfilled, and they remain relevant to this day. Until now, the political science community is divided.
The fourth period. Consolidation of the professional community of Kazakhstani political scientists is inconceivable without the formation of sufficiently distinct and strict criteria for membership in this community, which in turn implies a general, albeit very conditional and flexible understanding of who can call himself a political scientist, what responsibility and what obligations entail a similar claim. This was discussed at the 2nd Congress of Political Scientists of Kazakhstan in 2009 and at the 1st Eurasian Congress of Political Scientists in 2011.
Both congresses were held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Information. Political scientists themselves still showed a low ability to self-organization.
At the congress of political scientists in Kazakhstan, there was noted a growing number of scientific publications, published monographic studies, magazines – “Rules of the game”, “Exclusive”, “Kazakhstan in global processes”, “VOX populi”, new “factories of thought” (for example, IPD – the Institute of Political Decisions, headed by B. Bekturganova). Quite popular is the genre of political journalism: S. Duvanov, N. Kuzmin, S. Kuttykadam, A. Omarova, E. Poletaev, A. Sarym, A. Toiganbaev, A. Khan.
15.2 On Political Studies in Kazakhstan
The current stage in the development of comparative political science in Kazakhstan is characterized by the cooperation of scientists with an interest in specific cases and contexts. For comparative studies, a clear limitation of the sphere where the analysis will be concentrated is essential.
The range of applications in the study of politics made comparative analysis central in political science. It is becoming increasingly important. Its main objectives are: to develop a system of knowledge about management and politics in general; to evaluate political experience, institutions, behavior and processes from the point of view of cause-effect relationships; to predict events, trends and consequences, the need to conduct research at the junction of the actual political comparativistics, world politics and world relations. New tasks and new demands now arise before political comparativistics.
The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KISS), the Institute of Philosophy and Political Science of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (IPhPS), the Risk Assessment Group, the Center for Contemporary Studies “Alternative”, the Center for Humanitarian and Political Conjuncture, the Institute of World Politics and Economy with the Foundation of the First President and others have proved to be serious analytical and, at the same time, research structures.
In general, describing the level of science development in this period it should be noted that Kazakhstan falls far behind the foreign countries in terms of its level of political science and practically does not stand out among other post-Soviet states. Today the most urgent problems in this area are the lack of sustainable scientific schools; theory is replaced with descriptiveness, simplicity, great inertia of the usual theoretical and methodological schemes, the disunity of representatives of the political science community. Among the subjective factors influencing the development of scientific thought, it is necessary to note the orientation of researchers to certain bureaucratic structures and financial groups, political-party engagement, the absence of favorable political conditions for the development of political science as a whole. In 2010, in order to resolve some of these problems, a group of academic researchers and teachers of political science in the republic established the Association of Political Studies. The main priority of the APS is the consolidation of a professional political science community capable of carrying out its functions with dignity and confidence and bringing Kazakhstan’s political science to a decent level.
Political science in Kazakhstan is developing, maybe not as fast as it should, but there are certain achievements. Science develops through fundamental research above all things. There have already taken shape if not schools, then research directions.
Let us single out such a topic as the Kazakhstani experience of democratic transit.
Questions about the separation of powers and the effectiveness of governance, the economic crisis and the social state, the conflict and consensus of political forces, the political elites and the social basis of democracy, the legitimacy of the democratic system, etc., are comprehended and resolved in line with the global processes and trends of globalization.
In their works, Kazakhstani scientists reveal various properties and characteristics of political transformation on the problems:
- regional, electoral and media policy;
- security;
- domestic and international policy;
- political transit and modernization;
- political system and multi-party system;
- democracy and civil society.
In 2010, a new structure was created to unite the efforts of scientists in the development of political science – the Republican Association for Policy Studies (APS). E. Aliyarov was elected the president of this public organization. The Association held three summer schools of political science for university teachers and research institute employees: “Methods and techniques of political research and teaching”, “Political management: theory, methodology, practice” and “Political conflictology”.
For the first time in history, at the initiative of the APS, the Kazakh delegation took part in the work of the World Congress of Political Scientists.
The XXII World Congress of Political Scientists was held in Madrid in July 8-12. The International Political Science Association (IPSA) organized it. The Congress is one of the most representative international conferences of scholars and experts in the political and social sciences.
The theme of the Congress – “Reshaping Power, Shifting Boundaries” – was intended to cover those processes and transformations that determine the development of a modern world, rapidly globalizing throughout the last years. The cross-cutting themes of the congress were comparative political science and political institutions; gender, religion and identity; international political economy, international relations; political behavior; political theory.
At the congress, the participants paid special attention to the draft evaluation of the democratic governance effectiveness. This project has become one of the many symptoms of the transfer of research interest from the democratic participation, justice and the exercise of political rights to the effectiveness of governance and manageability.
At the same time, it is indicative that these issues are supposed to be the center of the next IPSA congress in Montreal from the angle of “better governance”.
It is obvious that Kazakhstan’s comparative political science cannot develop autonomously, in isolation from the world political science. Therefore, the fact that for the first time political scientists of Kazakhstan took part in such a large-scale and representative forum is an event of great significance in itself. At the same time, it should be taken into account that participation in the World Congress of IPSA allows to be acquainted with the research results of specialists from different countries of the world, to establish or strengthen scientific contacts. In addition, it is important to note that the people of Kazakhstan were not passive participants, they presented for discussion of their colleagues two sectional reports, which passed preliminary hard review selection and were included in the program of the congress.
A certain achievement is that by the decision of the Executive Committee of the IPSA, the Association of Political Studies of Kazakhstan was admitted to the International Political Science Association.
There is hope that the interest in science that allows us to expand the range of ideas about the world of politics, i.e. comparative political science, will increase not only thanks to the efforts of scientists, but due to the demand from both government bodies and society. Political analysts in Kazakhstan may expect more attention from the authorities and public forces, as investments in political science will contribute to the formation of a civil society and a democratic rule of law, enhancing the effectiveness of domestic and foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to R. Ch. Chilcot, “Comparative politics is not the field in which the last word is said. Old and new ideas influence its development. This state of things not only allows discussion and divergence of opinions, but also creates the prerequisites for deepening into previously unexplored problems or reconsidering the established views on the rapidly changing and developing world”.
Control questions
Self-control questions