Kazakhstan's Developmental Journey

This book discusses Kazakhstan's transitioning trajectory to a market economy since it declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.. It analyses the evolution of key policy areas and sectors through the lens of policy development and implementation, and evaluates their suitability in pursuing the country's strategic objectives. Topics include policy initiatives for economic development, new policy paradigms in public service delivery and infrastructure improvement, and water-energy-food (WEF) nexus thinking in governing the WEF sectors. The book argues that policies developed in the 1990s and 2000s have so far served the nation's needs. Nevertheless, as Kazakhstan seeks to achieve a competitive edge worldwide, many of these policies would require adjustment, or a paradigm shift. Providing a unique outlook on policy and governance, this book will appeal to scholars, students, and practitioners involvedwith Kazakhstan and Central Asia and interested in the transformation of ex-Soviet nations, their policy, and sustainable development. Anastasia Koulouri is a Lecturer at the Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. Previously she has held posts at the University of Strathclyde and Abertay University (UK), the Technical University of Helsinki (Finland), and the Belgian Nuclear Energy Research Centre (Belgium). She holds a PhD in Management Science from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. Her research interests include energy policy and security in resource-rich countries with particular focus on Kazakhstan, and sustainable development of transitional economies. Dr Koulouri has co-edited volumes on Energy Security (Palgrave Macmillan 2019), and on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (Routledge 2019).

Nikolai Mouraviev is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, UK. Previously he has held teaching positions at KIMEP University (Kazakhstan); Wayne State University (US); and Viterbo University (US). Part of his research focuses on public-private collaboration in developing nations, and he has published extensively in this area including a monograph (Palgrave Macmillan 2017) and an edited volume (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2017). In addition, his research interests include entrepreneurship and governance of the energy sector. Dr Mouraviev has co-authored six books, including two research monographs, and published more than 50 papers.

Auteur

Anastasia Koulouri is a Lecturer at the Norwich Business School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. Previously she has held posts at the University of Strathclyde and Abertay University (UK), the Technical University of Helsinki (Finland), and the Belgian Nuclear Energy Research Centre (Belgium). She holds a PhD in Management Science from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. Her research interests include energy policy and security in resource-rich countries with particular focus on Kazakhstan, and sustainable development of transitional economies. Dr Koulouri has co-edited volumes on Energy Security (Palgrave Macmillan 2019), and on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus (Routledge 2019).

Nikolai Mouraviev is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Business, Law and Social Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, Scotland, UK. Previously he has held teaching positions at KIMEP University (Kazakhstan); Wayne State University (US); and Viterbo University (US). Part of his research focuses on public-private collaboration in developing nations, and he has published extensively in this area including a monograph (Palgrave Macmillan 2017) and an edited volume (Cambridge Scholars Publishing 2017). In addition, his research interests include entrepreneurship and governance of the energy sector. Dr Mouraviev has co-authored seven books, including two research monographs, and published more than 50 papers.

Contenu

Part 1 - Introduction

1 Anastasia Koulouri and Nikolai Mouraviev

Introduction: An overview of Kazakhstan's development journey since 1991

This chapter provides a brief overview of Kazakhstan's developmental direction since it gained its independence in 1991. The chapter highlights the details and explains the significance of the government strategies Kazakhstan 2030 and Kazakhstan 2050, which provide the framework for the country's long-term priorities and underpin the design, development and implementation of policy in key areas (e.g. political and economic reforms, civil service and public administration) and key sectors (e.g. energy, water, agriculture, education) as well as governance tools (e.g. public-private partnerships).

The chapter shows how the edited collection contributes to the body of knowledge on Kazakhstan and in particular on the nation's evolutionary trajectory since it became an independent country. It then emphasises the general purpose of the book, which is to analyse Kazakhstan's developmental journey by investigating policy approaches and governance issues. Finally, it explains the selection of topics and outlines the book's structure.

Part 2 - Nation-building and transitioning to a market economy 2

Donnacha Ó Beacháin

Political evolution and nation building in Kazakhstan

This chapter charts Kazakhstan's state-building trajectory since its independence in 1991. Until recently and for more than a quarter of a century, Kazakhstan's political life has been dominated by its President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Kazakhstan's state-building efforts have been accompanied by power struggles and ethno-nationalistic tendencies. The existence, until recently, of an all-powerful president has ensured that any emerging tensions have been managed effectively at the policy level and in the country's relations with its neighbours and with ethnic groups. The country has now entered a post-Nazarbayev era with the election of a new president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in 2019. One of the most significant challenges facing Kazakhstan is whether it can manage these tensions going forward in order to ensure socio-economic and political stability in the country.

3

Roman Vakulchuk

The role of market reforms in achieving Kazakhstan's sustainable development

This chapter discusses the transition of Kazakhstan to a market economy and the economic reforms that have taken place in the nation since it gained its independence in 1991. Kazakhstan has been actively promoting market reforms since its independence and is widely regarded as one of the most successful reformers in the post-Soviet space. In the 1990s, it pursued a shock therapy approach and fast liberalisation of the economy drawing on extensive support from international organisations and foreign investors. In the early 2000s, the country began the active exploration and development of its vast oil and gas reserves and became a substantial oil exporter. Using oil revenue, the government launched a number of industrial development programmes aimed at restructuring the economy away from the fossil fuel sector. Although some success has been achieved, many of these programmes have failed to achieve the set objectives. Environmental goals were not prioritised during that period and only after 2010 the country started integrating environmental concerns in its policies. The chapter investigates the suitability of economic reforms for Kazakhstan's long-term development goals by offering a case study that elucidates climate change awareness, the impact of EXPO 2017 and the proliferation of renewable energy in the country.

4

Sharimerden Chikanayev

Public-private partnerships: An evolving policy paradigm &amp...