The Political System of Kazakhstan

This chapter outlines the evolution of the Kazakh political system since independence in 1991. We review its early constitutional arrangements and the creation of its representative institutions in light of the power struggles that resulted in the consolidation of power around the figure of the first Kazakh president, Nursultan Nazarbayev (1991–2019). We also discuss the protests that occurred in January 2022 and the violent repression that left more than 200 people dead, which have together shown the extent of popular discontent and the willingness of the authorities to use force to quell it. How did these protests impact the reconfiguration of power under the presidency of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev? Finally, we also elaborate on Kazakhstan’s multivector foreign policy in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the delicate balance of power in the region. The chapter also accounts for the most recent shifts in regional politics due to the war’s impact.