Historical Kazakhstan

The origins of the contemporary state of Kazakhstan go back to the 1400s, when a new dynasty emerged in Central Asia through the unification of various Turkish tribes. Before the 1400s what is now Kazakhstan, a broad expanse of steppe, was inhabited by a number of Turkish states.

Various different cultures lived in Central Asia, including the Steppes, between 5000 and 1200 BC, such as the Afayesnova, Andrenova and Karasuk civilisations. The civilisations subsequently founded on the Kazakh steppes may be listed as follows: the Sakas, Xiongus, the Xiongus and Chi-chi rule, Apars, the Gokturk Khanate, the Western Gokturk Empire, the Hazar and Bulgarian Period, the Second Gokturk Khanate, the Turgis State, the Arab Akins, the Karluks and Kimeks, the Karahanli State, the Mongol Empire and the Golden Horde State.

The Birth of Modern Kazakhstan

The birth of the modern Kazak nation: Following the collapse of the Golden Horde State, the Turkish tribes in the Dest-i Kipchak are founded the Nogay Khanate by collecting together around Nogay Khan. This khanate, which later turned into the Kazak Khanate, was the common name of the Turkish tribes on the Kyrgyz Steppes from 1465 to 1847. The Kazak Khanate consisted of three parts in what is now Kazakkhstan: Great Juz, Middle Juz and Lesser Juz. These were administered by the Khan’s sons. After 1771 they began acting independently of one another. At the end of 1770 the Kazakh juz were caught in a major struggle between the Russian Empire and China. In 1847, during the reign of the Kazak khan “Kenesari Khan,” the Russians launched a full-scale assault on Kazak sovereignty. A “Russian Generality” was founded in all of central Asia in 1863, and this divided the regions into a number of parts. At this time, the Russians referred to the Kazak region as the “Kazak Kyrgyz Khanate.” In the 1900s, a large number of Russians began settling on the Kyrgyz steppes, and the railway connecting Central Asia to Russia was completed in 1906.

A rebellion caused by famine and political reasons began against the Russian administration in Central Asia between 1912 and 1917. A period of independence was experienced in Central Asia because of the Russian Revolution in 1917. Between 1917 and 1920, the former Kazak juz combined to establish the independent “Alas Horde State.” Headed by Alikhan Bokeikhanov with its capital in Semey, this state managed to survive for three years. In 1920 the Russians took over, after which the period of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics began.

The USSR Period

The Russians established two Soviet republics in Central Asia in 1920. They called the republic they set up in what is now Kazakhstan the “Kyrgyzstan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.” In 1925, on the grounds that it had been misnamed, the Russians changed the “Kyrgyzstan Autonomous Soviet Socialist republic” to the “Kazakhstan Soviet Socialist Republic.” Agricultural policies led to major difficulties between 1924 and 1934. Many Kazakh families immigrated to the Uygur region. The Kazakhstan SSR experienced many troubles and a significant decline in population during the Second World War, and became one of the areas in which Soviet agricultural policies were implemented throughout the days of the USSR. Following the economic crises and the collapse of the Soviet Socialist Republics in 1990, Parliament passed the constitutional document known as the “National Independence of the republic of Kazakhstan,” which was signed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. This document laid the foundations for a new, independent state.

After the collapse of the USSR, between the years 1991 and 1993, a move took place towards an administrative system with a parliament and presidency. There was a dramatic fall in GDHP between 1991 and 1995, the GDP figure for 1995 being only 61.4% of the GDHP level for 1990. The need for reforms in state regeneration, the political system and in order to bring about a market based economy gave rise to the need for a presidential system. Under the 1995 Constitution, Kazakhstan adopted presidential republic status. Between March 1995 and January 1996 the president enacted 134 decrees and more than 60 agreeing international agreements. The president’s successful restructuring in the fields of the economy, finance and politics lent a powerful impetus to the restructuring and redevelopment processes.

The president issues an annual message addressed to the Kazak public, which sets out the main lines of the situation within the country and internal-foreign policy. The first address was issued in October 1997, under the title “Well-Being, Security and Happiness for the People of Kazakhstan.” This is more commonly known as Kazakhstan’s Redevelopment Strategy 2003 or Kazakhstan-2003. After that, every subsequent annual state of the nation address was issued in the light of the Kazakhstan-2003 Strategy and new targets were constantly set out.

Regeneration in Kazakhstan Since Independence

Kazakhstan’s 15 years of independence can be characterised by major changes in the political, economic and social arenas. These reforms impacted on the establishment of a new political and state system. A number of areas of restructuring occurred as economic crises were overcome.

The state system was constructed on the basis of the division of power – legislative, executive and judicial. Under the 1995 Constitution, the president is the head of state and is responsible for the harmonious working of these three organs. The president is directly chosen by public vote.

Processes aimed at reinforcing democratic and social reforms, establishing a civil society and influencing the setting up of political parties and civil society organisations are still continuing. Political diversity, equal rights, the enshrining of the principle that all citizens are equal before the law and the freedom of an independent press are all being established. Under the Language Law all ethnic groups have a guaranteed right to protect and develop their own languages.

One historic step was taken with the closure of the Semey nuclear test zone. This was the first time in world history that a country had voluntarily given up its own nuclear stockpile.  The members of the UN Security Council with their own nuclear weapons – the USA, Russia, Great Britain, France and China, have guaranteed Kazakhstan’s security. The treaty on ridding Central Asia of nuclear weapons, signed on 8 September 2006, will ensure even greater security for the region.

The call by Kazak President N. A. Nazarbeyev for the holding of a Cooperation and Security Enhancing Measures in Asia conference, which he strongly recommended at the UN General Assembly in October 2002, was acted upon and received wide global support. The Mystic and Traditional Religions Assembly initiated by President Nursultan Nazarbeyev in person has made major contributions to the development of cultural dialogue and reinforcing of security.

Kazakhstan is a state that enjoys treaty relations with the countries on its 14,000 km borders, and no border disputes currently exist.

Kazakhstan’s foreign policy is built on the principle of multilateralism. It seeks to develop dialogue and cooperation with Russia, China, the European Union (EU), the Central Asian states and the Muslim nations of the world.

Kazakhstan is an active participant in and has been at the forefront of such regionally integrated bodies as the Eurasian Economic Community (EEC), the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the Union of Independent States (UIS). It continues to play an active role in the United Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), the European Security and Cooperation Organisation and other international and regional bodies. Kazakhstan also enjoys significant cooperation with cultural/humanitarian organisations (UNICEF/UNESCO, the UN Regeneration Program and UN Drugs Control Program (UNDCP) and others), and with such financial institutions as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank and others.

The state of the country’s economy has normalised enormously over the course of the last 15 years. A market economy and its institutions have been set in place. Privatisation has taken place and a brand new tax system established, the appropriate domestic conditions have been set up and economic relations restructured in rural areas. In the development of the state system a high level of experience has been acquired, from the armed forces to the opening of embassies abroad. Reforms regarding retirement and public services have been brought in. In the period between 1993 and 2006, Kazakhstan encourage direct foreign investment of more than $50 million, a record level; domestic investment of $75 million also took place in the same period. GDNP rose by 69.7% from 1995 to 2005, and was 13.5% higher in 2005 than the figure for 1990. 2006 GDNP reached $80 million. Independent Kazakhstan has followed a path towards successful regeneration. According to the presidential state of the nation address, Kazakhstan is currently engaged on a process of modernisation and democratisation that will allow it to take its place among the top 50 nations with regard to competitive power. The regeneration of the last 15 years has ended in stability, independence and a powerful economy.

State Structure

Kazakhstan is a unitary nation state with a presidential system of government. The fundamental law is the Constitution, and the president is the head of state. Since 1991 Nursultan Nazarbeyev has held the office of president. The capital was transferred to Astana in 1997. The official state language is Kazak, and the official state currency the Tenge. Nation Day, on December 16, celebrates the country’s independence. Other official holidays are New Year (1-2 January), International Women’s Day (8 March), Nevruz (22 March), The Kazakhstan Peoples’ Union and Solidarity day (1 May) and Republic Day (25 October). Since 2006, the first day of the Islamic Festival of the Sacrifice and the Russian Orthodox Church Christmas have also been celebrated as national holidays.

Kazakhstan has adopted and implemented the principle of the separation of the main governmental institutions – legislative, executive and judicial. Legislation is passed by Parliament. The upper chamber, the Senate, has 39 representatives and the lower chamber, the Assembly, has 77 members. The prime minister heads the government, the highest executive body. The authority of the law is represented by the state courts, the Supreme Court being the highest of all. The Constitutional Council, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office and the Republic of Kazakhstan Ministry of Justice administer legal and legislative affairs. The Chief Prosecutor’s Office answers to the presidency.

Ministries:

 1. Internal Affairs Ministry (www.mvd.kz)
2. Ministry of Health (www.mz.gov.kz)
3. Ministry of Trade and Industry (www.mit.kz)
4. Foreign Affairs Ministry (www.mfa.kz)
5. Ministry of Culture and Information (www.sana.gov.kz)
6. Ministry of Defence (www.mod.kz)
7. Ministry of Education and Science (www.edu.gov.kz)
8. Ministry of Environmental Protection (www.nature.kz)
9. Ministry of Agriculture (www.minagri.kz)
10. Ministry of Transport and Communication (www.mtk.gov.kz)
11. Ministry of Employment and Social Security (www.enbek.kz)
12. Finance Ministry (www.minfin.kz)
13. Ministry of States of Emergency (www.emer.kz)
14. Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (www.minenergo.kz)
15. Ministry of the Economy and Budget Planning (www.minplan.kz)
16. Ministry of Justice (www.minjust.kz)

Political System

Kazakhstan embarked on the second stage of the development of a multi-party system in 2002, following Parliament’s ratification of the new “Political Parties Law.” There are currently 11 registered political parties. Sixty-seven of the 77 members of Parliament are elected from single-member constituencies, the remaining 10 coming from party lists and national constituencies based on the principle of proportional representation. A party has to secure at least 7% of the national vote in order to be able to assume seats in Parliament.

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