Protests and well-being in Kazakhstan

[Андрей Васильевич Попов 27]

Dear Zaure, glad to see you at our online conference, and thank you for the interesting presentation! 

The trends you have outlined are well understood and largely observed in Russia along the "center-periphery" axis. I apologize for the question, but I am very interested in understanding the role of protests (for instance, in 2022) in achieving sustainable development of Kazakhstan. Do the rising public outrage relate to the well-being of the population?

Thanks in advance.

[Зауре Казбековна Чуланова 12]

Dear Andrey, thank you for the question.

 Protests are usually the result of problems that have accumulated over the years. In 2022, the gap between rich and poor has reached a high level. Against the backdrop of corruption, this stratification in income played the role of a lit match to a powder keg. One of the problems is unregulated migration. The entire migration flow is directed to 3 megacities. The population migrates in search of higher wages and better living conditions. The consequence of the high intensity of internal migration is an increased burden on urban infrastructure, worsening housing problems, and narrowing access to social services. All these problems were voiced by the President in his 2022 Address, where he identified the main directions for further political and economic modernization aimed at improving the well-being of the people of Kazakhstan. In economics, the main goal is to ensure inclusive growth in the well-being of the population of Kazakhstan. Serious measures are planned to be taken in the field of human capital development. The government has been instructed to “reconsider approaches to financing healthcare and the social sector as a whole.” An important condition for achieving these goals is the reform of the state apparatus system.

[Андрей Васильевич Попов 27]

Dear Zaure, thank you for your honest and informative answer! It's so interesting to observe the "lively" and very dynamic development in Kazakhstan. I hope everything works out.

Wishing you success!

[Зауре Казбековна Чуланова 12]

Thank you very much!