Interview on political reforms in Kazakhstan given by Dr. Rudolf Wyder

Dear Dr. Wyder, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced a package of significant political reforms during the second meeting of the National Council of Public Trust.

 

Could you please outline the timeliest and the most important reforms in political sphere to strengthen political pluralism in Kazakhstan suggested by the President?

 

In a modern society, pluralism of situations, backgrounds, interests, aspirations and hopes is a fact of life. One of the essential tasks of a modern state is to assure that this plurality can be articulated freely and publicly, to the benefit of the whole community. The debate on how plurality should be mirrored, respectingcompeting points of view, and how conflicting views can best be amalgamated into political decisions, is itself the central topic and a permanent theme of the democratic process. 

Pluralism cannot, in my view, be limited to a specific sphere of state and society. It is either comprehensive or else a torso, and in this case a permanent stumbling block. Therefore, only a diversity of free media can reflect as well as foster plurality. The so called “civil society” needs to be given the opportunity to organize and freely express itself and to compete for popular support. Eventually, political pluralism requires a plurality of political parties. It is therefore logical that the threshold for forming political parties should be reduced. 

Pluralism is, as President Tokayev rightly suggests, first of all an attitude. It means openness to alternative opinions and for dialogue. 

 

There is an idea to include the civil society representatives on the boards of socially significant enterprises in the quasi public sector. How do find this idea to create socially responsible society? 

 

A functioning, that means diverse, free and lively,civil society is in my view a key element for an inclusive, creative, productive society and, as President Tokayev suggests, a precondition for modernization. Judging from a Swiss background, including representatives of the civil society in enterprises of the quasi public sector seems very promising,and this initiative shouldn’t in my view be limited to the quasi public sector. My country benefits enormously from a highly diversified andvery active civil society, favoring people’s involvement and sharing a considerable proportion of collective responsibilities. 

Provided they are minimally structured and sufficiently rooted in the society, civil society bodies, in recognition of their contribution to public debate and citizen’s participation, deserve to be given the opportunity to name themselves their representatives instead of having them appointed by the Government. 

 

What do you think about the transition of the Kazakh language from a Cyrillic to a Latin alphabet?

 

Am I right in assuming that the project of replacing the Cyrillic alphabet for the Kazakh language by the Latin alphabet is in the first place economically inspired? For sure, using the Latin alphabet will facilitate exchanges with most of the industrialized countries in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia as well as with culturally related countries such as Turkey. In this perspective, the transition will be perceived as a powerful signal of openness for worldwide communication and exchange. 

At the same time, I’m aware of the complexity of the project requiring e.g. the creation of letters or combinations of letters capable of transcribing sounds typical of the Kazakh language. Insofar as the Russian language will remain an important means of communication within the country and in relation with important neighbors, the Cyrillic alphabet will continue to be used parallelly. Modern electronic means however facilitate this parallelism. 

I see the planned transition as an important challenge, especially for the economy, the administration, science, education – in fact for thewhole society. Considerable means and enough time will have to be allowed. On the other hand, I would expect that the project will foster a significant creative process and unleash latent cultural energies. 

 

How do you evaluate the establishment and functioning of the National Council of Public Trust itself? 

 

It is difficult to assess the effects from a distance. I would like to see the establishment of the National Council of Public Trust as an important step in the process of “crystalization” of a diversified civil society. If operated bottom-up rather than top-down, the Council can contribute to launch a permanent public debate as well as broader citizen’s participation.And this will encourage the population to engage more actively in collective responsibilities, to the benefit of every sector of the society. 

Seen in this perspective, the present Council appears as an experimental “Round table”, limited in size, but big enough to path the way to recognizing and encouraging the potential of the civil society, and to benefiting from the wealth of its inexhaustible experience.

May the initiative be successful,may it enhance citizens participation and public debate,may it serve as a further step towards a harmonious, creative and inclusive society, and, as Presdent Tokayev suggests, towards political pluralism!

 

Dr. Rudolf Wyder,

former Director of the Organization of the Swiss Abroad