Democratisation Process in Kazakhstan

Throughout the 1990s the discussion on possible ‘models of development’ for the Central Asian Republics (CARs) dominated the intellectual discourse in the region. A number of developmental models were floated in each of the five countries of Central Asia—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, which resulted in the adoption of political institutions of democratic government and market-oriented economies soon after these nations attained independence in 1991. In the case of Kazakhstan, the current Constitution which was ratified in September 1995 provides for a democratic, secular state and a presidential system of government. In 1998, the Constitution was amended and the first election was held in January 1999 which resulted in the re-election of President Nazarbayev. Such developments in the democratisation of Kazakhstan politics have given the country a new identity in the post Soviet world. This article examines the process of democratisation in Kazakhstan in the post 1991 period, with particular focus on the reforms in the country’s political structure. It appears that although, the Kazakhstan government does crack down on some opposition groups and newspapers, the country has a strong basis on which it could move foreword to democratisation. As such, it also highlights the challenges that lie ahead in the democratic developments of the country.