THIRTY YEARS AGO, in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Republic of Kazakhstan achieved its formal independence and immediately set about creating the institutions and economy that would become the basis for future stability and prosperity. The problems facing the new country were daunting, from lack of defined borders, the absence of a genuine polity and the need to dismantle the old state and introduce radical social reforms. Few people could have predicted such a rapid transformation from what had been a neglected and under-developed territory into a stable and prosperous
Central Asian nation.
This path to development was not always easy. The first constitution for the new republic, adopted in January 1993, was soon shown to be ineffective and it was not until a new constitution that introduced a strong presidential power was adopted in a popular referendum in August 1995 that the country was able to make progress in state building. The concentration of power into the presidency was vital in these early years to enable progress to be made. Later, as the country found its stride, these powers were mitigated and eventually, in 2019, we witnessed the unusual sight of a president-for-life leaving office early to make way for a successor. First President Nazarbayev’s remarkable resignation speech emphasised that he was leaving office to make way for new leaders with new ideas.
This book offers an audit of progress during those first 30 years. Written by experts with a deep knowledge of the country, it provides ample evidence that Kazakhstan has embraced nationhood at home and also found a role for itself amongst the community of nations. Progress in education, industrialisation and political representation is evident. The new capital, Nur-Sultan, has risen from the steppe to become one of the wonders of the world. The huge potential for this vast country, with its abundance of natural resources and sheer physical beauty cannot be over-estimated. And the institutions needed to ensure development – including banks and money markets, courts, academic institutions, and cultural life – are already exerting an influence over the future. Much remains to be done and doubtless there will be difficulties, but we can be confident that Kazakhstan at 30 has come of age.