The Nazarbayev Generation: Youth in Kazakhstan

(Rowan & Littlefield) This social and cultural analysis provides a new understanding of Kazakhstan’s younger generations that emerged during the rule of Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been presiding over Kazakhstan…

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Kazakhstan’s police are cracking down on protesters — as political activism keeps rising

(Monkey Cage blog) It’s a conflict familiar in post-Soviet nations: Democratic expectations meet unreformed police forces. After Kazakhstan voted for president on June 9, police arrested thousands of protesters who believed the regime…

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Kassenova: Nazarbayev’s exit resembles the semi-departure of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew

(Forbes) It’s probably safe to say that few would equate Kazakhstan (KZ) with the kind of modernity akin to something straight out of a science fiction novel. Two years ago, following…

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Marat: The growing protest sentiment and fear among the Kazakh authorities of losing control could lead to more robust measures from the police

(Eurasianet) The results of Kazakhstan’s presidential election pose a puzzle. Both for the government and its opponents. As anticipated, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ran away with the vote. Preliminary results announced on the morning of June 10…

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Kassenova: The succession process has shown that Kazakh society is changing and those running the country are out of touch with their own people

(FP) NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan—For the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan has a new president. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the interim president and hand-picked successor of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Central…

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Nargis Kassenova on Kazakhstan in Transition

(The Diplomat) As Kazakhstan undergoes its first power transition, the awakening of public politics is inevitable. It’s been a wild few months for Kazakh politics, starting with President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s resignation on…

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Trochev: Nazarbayev’s successor should take steps to generate citizen-centred reforms in the criminal justice system and civil society

(Astana Times) Presidential candidates Zhambyl Akhmetbekov, Amirzhan Kossanov, Toleutai Rakhimbekov, Amangeldy Taspikhov, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Sadybek Tugel and Daniya Yespayeva are competing for Kazakhstan’s highest office in the June 9 presidential…

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Marat: Post-Zhanaozen massacre in Kazakhstan, police focus on preempting protests before they can occur, both in rural areas and cities

(openDemocracy) On 4 February, a house fire in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, killed five sisters aged between one and 13. Women campaigning for increased social and financial support for “hero mothers” – as mothers…

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The Politics of Dual Citizenship in Post-Soviet States: Securing Political Goals Through Citizenship Rules

(PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo) The post-World War II era, and especially the post-Cold War era, has seen the global spread of dual citizenship. Not only have the number of de-facto dual…

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Kazakhstani public opinion of the United States and Russia: testing variables of (un)favourability

(Central Asian Survey) (Co-authored with Dylan Royce) Abstract: Though Central Asia is often studied through the prism of its relationships with external powers, research on local public perceptions of these different…

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Kazakhstan

The Nazarbayev Generation: Youth in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s police are cracking down on protesters — as political activism keeps rising

Kassenova: Nazarbayev’s exit resembles the semi-departure of Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew

Marat: The growing protest sentiment and fear among the Kazakh authorities of losing control could lead to more robust measures from the police

Kassenova: The succession process has shown that Kazakh society is changing and those running the country are out of touch with their own people

Nargis Kassenova on Kazakhstan in Transition

Trochev: Nazarbayev’s successor should take steps to generate citizen-centred reforms in the criminal justice system and civil society

Marat: Post-Zhanaozen massacre in Kazakhstan, police focus on preempting protests before they can occur, both in rural areas and cities

The Politics of Dual Citizenship in Post-Soviet States: Securing Political Goals Through Citizenship Rules

Kazakhstani public opinion of the United States and Russia: testing variables of (un)favourability

The Role of Russian Intelligence in the Invasion of Ukraine