The formation of civil society in the repuclic of Kazakhstan

The new process of civil society’s formation in the Republic of Kazakhstan has started after the collapse of Soviet Union and getting its independence in 1990. The end of 1980s and the beginning of 1990s were the years of economic, social and political reforms that stimulated the creation of social unions for protecting rights and interests of different social groups. The fist associations were the Independent Trade Unions. They represented interests of workers that worked at the non-governmental sector of economy. In addition, the mass media, political parties, public and religious associations were actively institutionalized.

The most significant public association was the social movement “Nevada-Semipalatinsk” that aimed at closing nuclear polygon in Semipalatinsk. Particularly, the development of civil society and its institutions depends on the state and its activity in creating political, legal and others conditions. Therefore, on June 27, 1991 was adopted the Law on Public Associations that led to emerging such political parties as “Alash”, “National Congress of Kazakhstan”, Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, Civil Movement of Kazakhstan “Azat”, “Adilet”, the Republican Party and others. Thus the further development of party system was contributed by the adoption of the Constitution of Kazakhstan in 1995 (amended in 1998 and 2007) and the Law on Public Association and on Political Parties in 1996 and later in 2002.

By the year of 1990s was created a Coalition of Social Protection. It included 28 different organizations, political parties, and movements for teamwork in overcoming burning social issues by discussing and finding solutions on consolidated base.

On December 1994 the President of Kazakhstan signed the resolution for creating Republican Trilateral Commission on Social Partnership in the sphere of social, economic and labour relationships. That Commission has initiated the development of constructive trilateral relations and creation of social partnership system.

Between 1991 and 1996 there was clearly a flourishing of civil society activism in Kazakhstan. In addition, in independent and local media there was a growth of television stations, radio stations and newspapers and magazines. Human rights groups were formed and many organizations in the country made links with international groups. International organizations in turn, with the permission of the Kazakhstan government began working with local groups on issues such as environmental protection, youth issues, civic education and other important issues. This aid process was also going on within the economic and political spheres where organizations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations worked with the national government to improve the overall economic and political structure of the state.

In 1999 in almost all regions of the country were opened “Info-Centers of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs)”. The main aim of such centers was to interact with regional NGOs and provide them with consultative, informational and methodological assistance.

According to Kalashnikova, NGOs are effective middleman between state and citizens and they undertake many important factions in social transformations in the framework of regulation of public relations. In this regard the Confederation of NGOs of Kazakhstan (CNOK) positions itself as an important part in consolidation of joint actions for a more effective work of NGO in the process of interaction and cooperation with authority. The coordinated actions conducted by this Confederation in order to lobby legislative drafts in the Parliament and Government, were developed with taking into account interests of NGO. Therefore this is gradually become a systemic practice of such an equal interaction. [ 1 ]

Thus, speaking at the extraordinary IX session of “Otan” Party, Kazakhstani President Nursultan A. Nazarbayev among the main prospects of fulfilling political reforms especially emphasized that “we intend to implement measures on development and strengthening of civil society institutes. A wide support to Kazakhstan NGO will be provided, which would allow raising the level of development of civil society, as well as effectiveness of state society policy”. [ 2 ]

On December 2000 was adopted the Law on Social Partnership in Kazakhstan that provides the conciliation of interests between representatives of public authority, unifications of employers and employees. In 2001 was introduced the Law on Noncommercial Organizations, and in 2002 Concept of State Support for NGOs, including support for socially significant projects of NGOs through the signing of social contracts with them. In March 2003, a state Program of Government Support of NGOs was approved, which authorizes specified government branches to create conditions for sustainable development of NGOs, and to strengthen their role in resolving socially important problems based on cooperation with and support from the government. In 2004 the government established a fund for NGO activities.

At the same year was held the first Convention of world and traditional religions’ leaders with the participation of the most eminent religious figures and representatives of different confessions. On this Convention was adopted the Declaration “To Peace and Consent” and was founded Forum of Peace and Stability. There was also proclaimed a religious goodwill in Kazakhstan and was built a new Catholic Church (to welcome Pope John Paul II in 2001), a synagogue, a Russian Orthodox Church, and an enormous mosque in the new capital, Astana. In 2006 was opened the latest and most ostentatious monument to Kazakhstan’s tolerance is the Pyramid of Peace and Reconciliation in Astana. [ 3 ] It became a place of carrying out of Congress of World and Traditional-National Religions. In addition the active development has had the national cultural centers united in Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan. Thus, the interethnic consent has been mainly reached by the governmental policies. It should be said that these policies were successful to maintain nation-building process of multiethnic society of Kazakhstan.

During 2002-2006 years the president of RK created three successive structures which were used as communication channel between authority and civil society. The first structure was the Permanent Meeting on Working out Suggestions about Further Democratization and Development of Civil Society. Unfortunately, this meeting was unsuccessful, firstly because it was not attached to official constitutional status that means that its recommendations on realization political reforms could be ignored by authority at any point and the second is that the members of this meeting mostly consisted of pro-presidential supporters. In November 2004 was appointed a new structure - the National Commission on Democratization and Civil Society. In contrast to the previous structure, this Commission had a higher status, established relations with regional states, carried out nation-wide dialog and it was given a great responsibility. However, its work also did not bring the desired results. The next structure was established in March 2006. It was the State Commission on Development and Concretization Program of Democratic Reforms in the PK under the chairmanship of the head of state N. Nazarbayev. The main aim of this Commission is working out the state program for reforming political system of Kazakhstan and creating conditions for organization of national dialogue on realization of democratic transformations. However, according to oppositions these suggested measures do not make any real reorganizations of political system, they only “suppose insignificant changes.” [ 4 ]

Since 2003 the Government has hosted four high-profile Civil Forums in which was outlined the importance of partnerships of authority with NGO sector, was created Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan, were proposed amendments in Constitution, by which state financing of public associations is not permitted. [ 5 ] Within the framework of these processes was established the effective legislative base. On the same lines, a number of laws on Assembly of the Peoples of Kazakhstan, on local government, on political parties, elections and mass-media were adopted and improved. These laws promoted activization of work with institutes of civil society and have brought the significant contribution to process of introducing standards of OSCE.

In July 2006, the President N. Nazarbayev adopted the Concept of Civil Society Development for 2006 – 2011. This Concept is developed according to the national program of democratic reforms and strategy of joining the world’s fifty most competitive countries. The main aim of this Concept is the further improvement of legislative, socio-economic and methodological base for comprehensive development of civil society’s institutions and its equal partnership with government and business sectors in concordance with international legal instruments within the framework of international agreements and pacts in the sphere of human rights [ 6 ]. The power structures have started its realization, and formation of constructive cooperation within the bounds of triad “civil society – state – business.”

However, the civil society in Kazakhstan still has not developed to the full. In such conditions the state institutes play a key role in establishing consent and dialogue in society. But, the strategic task in this case is gradually to redistribute functions in favour of civil society’s institutes. Kamyrova states that only in such condition the high degree of stability and the civil peace will be provided. In other words, the state institutes should take measures directed on supporting initiatives of public associations. [ 7 ]

During the years of independent development in Kazakhstan was formed the new political regime as well as were created numerous unions and associations. Today the cooperation of third sector and non-governmental organizations with the state bodies is positively shifting. However it is too early to talk about establishing of the strong civil society which serves as the main base for democratic consolidation.

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