Youth in Kazakhstan actively immersed in societal movements
In a significant move towards fostering democratic values, a roundtable discussion was organized by Tarlan.kz in Almaty, focusing on the transparency of the election process for each political party. The event, which brought together young scientists, economists, educators, and political scientists, was presided over by Syrim Iktulov, the chief editor of Tarlan.kz, who emphasized the importance of transparency during the election process.
The discussion highlighted Kazakhstan's youth as a significant internal force pushing political parties to prioritize transparency in elections. By transforming institutional engagement through education, consultative bodies, and active civil participation, the youth are equipping themselves with the tools to influence electoral processes and party platforms towards more transparent and accountable governance.
The government recognizes the importance of youth in shaping national priorities, including political reforms. President Tokayev has emphasized youth as not only the future but the active present force of change, supported by state programs aimed at education, entrepreneurship, and gaining influence. This growing political agency of youth feeds into party platforms that increasingly reflect youth demands, including election transparency and anti-corruption measures.
At regional and international levels, Kazakhstan's youth participate actively in forums and festivals, such as the Turkic World Youth Capital initiative, which foster youth leadership, civic engagement, and democratic governance. Such platforms encourage youth voices to reach political decision-makers and influence the shaping of election programs that emphasize transparency and accountability.
Although specific election program content was not detailed in the documents, the widespread recognition of youth’s role in democratic governance—as evidenced by Kazakhstan’s references to youth in their national reviews on sustainable development—suggests that political parties have begun integrating youth-driven demands such as transparent electoral processes, anti-authoritarian policies, and inclusive political participation into their platforms.
The roundtable discussion also addressed issues revealed in society during the pandemic and electorate activity. Each political party was discussed in relation to capturing its target audience, and the event was structured in the form of debates. The transparency of the election process was a key point raised by Syrim Iktulov and a significant focus throughout the discussion.
As the roundtable concluded, the participants agreed that the next generation is expected to continue the work that has begun, ensuring that the pursuit of transparency in elections remains a priority for Kazakhstan's political landscape.
- In light of the roundtable discussion, it's apparent that the focus on transparency in elections is not confined to the national level, but extends to policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news, as the youth are rallying for transparency to become a cornerstone of the election process.
- The ongoing conversation about election transparency is not just limited to the roundtable discussion, but also permeates regional and international platforms, such as the Turkic World Youth Capital initiative, where the youth voice their demand for transparent and accountable governance, thereby influencing policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news.
