The discussion brought together representatives of leading think tanks, the academic and expert communities, higher education institutions, and civil society organizations. Experts discussed the upcoming elections to the Kurultai, the changing role of regions in the new political system, the development of political party and public representation, as well as mechanisms for incorporating regional priorities into national decision-making.

Opening the meeting, Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of KazISS under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, noted that the current electoral campaign represents the first practical stage in implementing Kazakhstan’s new constitutional model.

The Director of KazISS also highlighted changes in electoral attitudes. According to sociological research, 70–76% of citizens currently express their willingness to participate in the vote, while the share of undecided voters has declined from more than 22% in June to around 8% by the end of July.

Zhandos Shaimardanov placed particular emphasis on the growing importance of the regional agenda.

“Elections reflect public sentiment and the real needs of citizens. Each region has its own priorities — industrial development, rural areas, environmental issues, water supply, transport, or demographics. That is why the importance of the regional agenda in the performance of the future Kurultai will only increase,” he emphasized.

Saule Rakhmetullina, Chairperson of the Board and Rector of D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, noted that constitutional reforms increase the responsibility of regions for their own development. In 2025, industrial output in the East Kazakhstan Region exceeded 3.3 trillion KZT, underscoring its strategic importance to the national economy.

“The competitiveness of a region today is determined by how effectively it utilizes its industrial, scientific, investment, and human potential,” Saule Rakhmetullina emphasized.

Political scientist Talgat Kaliyev focused particular attention on the issue of regional representation under the transition to a unicameral Parliament. In his view, while the Senate previously played a significant role in representing regional interests, this responsibility now increasingly falls on political parties, which have an interest in ensuring broad representation from all regions of the country.

“No party can expect nationwide support if its lists do not include strong and reputable candidates from different regions. Therefore, political competition itself will encourage parties to build genuinely nationwide teams,” Talgat Kaliyev noted.

According to him, this model will enable regions to be represented not by individual deputies, but by party teams backed by expert resources, analytical support, and the capabilities of parliamentary factions.

“The interests of the regions will be advanced not through the efforts of a single deputy, but by the political party as a whole, making such representation more sustainable and effective,” the expert emphasized.

Indira Rystina, Member of the Board and Vice-Rector of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, noted that the transition to a proportional electoral system strengthens the role of political parties, their programmes, and their teams. According to her, all political parties have regional branches and are already engaged in systematic work on the ground. Therefore, the quality of party programmes is becoming a key factor in electoral competition.

“During the election campaign, parties should place the main emphasis on their programmes and the commitments they present to voters. At the same time, regional policy and the challenges faced by individual territories should become an integral part of these programmes, since residents of the regions constitute the majority of the electorate,” Indira Rystina noted.

The expert added that the new model shifts competition away from the personal visibility of individual candidates toward competition between party programmes, ideas, and teams. This requires political forces to maintain a permanent presence in the regions and incorporate local priorities into national policy.

Azamat Baigaliyev, Deputy Chairperson of the Board of the Kazakhstan Institute for Public Development, noted that the elections to the Kurultai represent an important stage in shaping a new political culture in Kazakhstan. According to him, the regular holding of elections and referendums is becoming a new norm of the country’s social and political life.

According to the latest sociological research, expected voter turnout stands at around 75%. In addition, 84% of citizens assess the socio-political situation in the country as stable and favorable, while more than 80% look to the future with optimism.

“Voters are becoming more demanding. Today, citizens expect not loud slogans, but professional solutions to specific problems — from inflation and job creation to infrastructure development, housing and utilities, and road quality,” Azamat Baigaliyev emphasized.

Boris Polomarchuk, a member of the Public Council of the Pavlodar Region, presented an analysis of party lists from the 2016, 2021, and 2023 elections, as well as relevant sociological studies. According to him, despite the broader geographical distribution of candidates, party recruitment during previous parliamentary campaigns remained highly centralized: around 43% of candidates were associated with Astana, while more than 65% of parliamentary mandates went to representatives of the capital. At the same time, the regions, which accounted for almost 40% of candidates, received less than 20% of parliamentary seats. In the expert’s view, these disparities need to be addressed, and political parties should strengthen their regional branches.

“A regional branch should become not an administrative office, but a political and analytical center that studies the challenges facing the territory, engages with experts, and promotes regional initiatives to the national level,” Boris Polomarchuk emphasized.

Aman Rakhmetullin, Head of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities at Alikhan Bokeikhan University, devoted his presentation on the development of political culture amid constitutional reforms. According to him, the expansion of citizens’ participation in government decision-making is reflected both in electoral engagement and in the development of local self-government institutions.

“The development of political culture should be assessed not only through legal changes, but also by the level of citizens’ political activity, their participation in public life, and their trust in state institutions,” Aman Rakhmetullin emphasized.

Rufit Akhmedzyanov, Director of the public foundation “Center for Local Self-Government Development,” noted that citizen participation should not be limited to election day.

“Public councils, local self-government, and public consultations should ensure an ongoing dialogue between the state and society, while timely reflecting the needs and priorities of the regions,” he said.

Summing up the meeting, participants emphasized that under the new political model, the regions should become full-fledged participants in shaping the national agenda. To achieve this, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation among government bodies, political parties, universities, think tanks, and civil society organizations, while expanding the participation of regional experts in the preparation of government decisions.

Сообщение Regional representation in the New Kurultai was discussed at an expert forum in East Kazakhstan появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение Middle powers turn to strategic autonomy as global rivalries intensify появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

On September 7–8, 2026, Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, participated in the International Hili Forum 2026 in Abu Dhabi. The forum brought together more than 1,000 participants and over 55 speakers from more than 35 countries.

The forum, held under the overarching theme “Gulf at Crossroads: Conflict, Consequences, and Course Correction,” was organized by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in collaboration with the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy (AGDA).

The main agenda focused on the transformation of the international order and security architecture amid intensifying great-power rivalry, conflicts in the Middle East, and the growing vulnerability of global transportation, energy, and technology systems. The discussion centered on issues of strategic autonomy, regional security, geo-economic stability, transport connectivity, and the growing role of middle powers. The organizers structured the discussions around three main themes: geopolitics, geo-economics, and geo-technology.

The KazISS Director spoke at a session alongside Former Prime Minister and Former Foreign Minister of Sweden Carl Bildt, as well as Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia and former President of the UN General Assembly Vuk Jeremić. The discussion focused on how middle powers can maintain strategic autonomy amid competition among major centers of power and make a practical contribution to regional and global stability.

In his speech, Zhandos Shaimardanov referred to the approach articulated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: “Kazakhstan is a responsible middle power.” The head of state also emphasized that the country’s foreign policy must be as balanced as possible and aimed at protecting and promoting the state’s strategic interests.

“The key word here is ‘responsible.’ This is not about claiming special status, but about the ability to pursue an independent foreign policy and make a practical contribution to international stability. As competition among the great powers intensifies, the importance of countries capable of maintaining freedom of choice and engaging with different centres of power is growing.”

Separate attention was devoted by the KazISS Director to the concept of strategic autonomy. According to him, for Kazakhstan, this does not mean neutrality or equal distance from its partners, but rather having sufficient space for independent decision-making.

“Kazakhstan’s strategic autonomy has three interrelated dimensions. The first is resilient domestic institutions: political modernization, a new Constitution, and a revamped architecture of state institutions strengthen the state’s capacity to adapt to contemporary challenges. The second is diversified external partnerships: Kazakhstan is developing relations with various centers of power while maintaining the independence of its foreign policy course. The third is connectivity and alternative routes: the development of transportation, energy, and economic ties reduces vulnerability and broadens the range of options. Institutional resilience, diversified partnerships, and connectivity together form the foundation of genuine strategic autonomy.”

This approach is in line with the logic underlying Kazakhstan’s political modernization. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev defined its main goal as “strengthening Kazakhstan’s potential and enhancing our state’s readiness to face modern challenges,” emphasizing the need for a substantive transformation of state institutions and improved coordination among them.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the KazISS Director highlighted the potential for closer horizontal cooperation among middle powers, including between the countries of Central Asia and the Gulf. Such cooperation could encompass regional security, transport connectivity, energy, investment, new technologies, and the development of multilateral mechanisms for cooperation.

Сообщение KazISS Director presents Kazakhstan’s Vision regarding the Middle Powers Role at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение Chinese economy not stalling, but in a period of growth engines reconfiguration: Kazakh scholar появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

In her lecture, the Ambassador presented her view of the current state and prospects of relations between Brussels and Astana. Particular attention was devoted to the recent constitutional reform in Kazakhstan and its institutional outcomes.

KazISS Director Zhandos Shaimardanov noted the high level and strategic nature of relations between Kazakhstan and the European Union, emphasizing the significance of the June 2026 visit of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to Brussels, which gave additional momentum to the further development of bilateral cooperation.

An open question-and-answer session was held as part of the event. KazISS experts discussed with the EU Ambassador a wide range of topics, including the prospects for trade and economic engagement, expanding collaboration in connectivity and the energy sector, as well as cooperation in the educational sphere. The ongoing regionalization processes in Central Asia and current trends in international politics were also discussed.

The «Ambassador Hour» format is traditionally held by KazISS to develop direct professional dialogue with the heads of foreign diplomatic missions. Such meetings allow the Institute’s experts to exchange views on current issues of bilateral cooperation and the international agenda, as well as to learn firsthand about the positions of foreign partners.

Сообщение «Ambassador Hour» with the EU Ambassador Held at KazISS появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение Korea-Central Asia Summit Draws Eyes toward the Region появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

1. Head of the Department of European and American Studies, Category A2-1

Job Responsibilities: Organizing the implementation of research projects; developing drafts of annual and current work plans; preparing reports on the Department’s activities and submitting them to the Institute’s management; participating in the development of draft concepts, regulatory, programmatic, and methodological documents, forecasts, and proposals; Conducting applied scientific and analytical research in the Department’s area of activity; assigning personnel to carry out planned research projects, monitoring the completion of tasks outlined in the plan, and ensuring the quality of research conducted by Department staff; providing operational oversight of the preparation and implementation of events related to the Department’s area of activity; initiating efforts to expand the Institute’s scientific ties with foreign and international research centers; holding working meetings with foreign delegations, representatives of foreign organizations, and the media.

Base Salary:

Requirements for contest participants: A higher (or postgraduate) education; a doctoral degree (Candidate of Sciences or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)) or a specialized doctoral degree; a record of scientific publications; at least 5 years of experience in scientific and organizational work; or at least 5 years of work experience in fields corresponding to the functional areas of the position.

Deadline for documents submission: within 15 calendar days starting from the first business day following the last publication of the competition announcement on the official KazISS website.

To participate in the competition, the following documents must be submitted:

1) an application for participation in the competition, including a list of attached documents;

2) a completed personnel record form (indicating the actual residential address and contact phone numbers);

3) copies of educational documents in accordance with the qualification requirements for the position;

4) a copy of a document confirming work experience;

5) a health certificate in Form No. 075/u;

6) a reference from the most recent employer;

7) personal data contained in identity documents.

A contestant may submit additional information regarding their education, work experience, and level of professional training (copies of documents on professional development, scientific publications, as well as recommendations from management at a previous place of employment, etc.).

Interview location: Astana, 4 Beibitshilik St.

Documents may be submitted in person or by mail to the following address: Astana, 4 Beibitshilik St., Room 520, phone: +7 (7172) 57-21-06 (ext. 205, ext. 221).

Сообщение The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan announces a competition for the vacant position of  Head of the Department of European and American Studies появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение China Outlines Priorities for Relations with Kazakhstan появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение 35 Years After Semipalatinsk: From Nuclear Tragedy to Global Responsibility появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.

Сообщение Experts: Political Trust Sets Stage for Next Phase of Kazakhstan-Singapore Partnership появились сначала на KAZAKHSTAN INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
UNDER THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN.