The modernization of #Kazakhstan identity

Kazakhstan aims to “showcase” the achievements and potential of its brightest young talents in a new effort to thrust itself onto the world stage. Timur Ryspekov and Arman Toskanbayev, two young entrepreneurs, will be among those featured in the “100 New Faces of Kazakhstan” project. This seeks to tell the stories of 100 citizens from different Kazakh regions, each from different age groups and ethnic origins but all of whom have one thing in common: they have succeeded in their chosen fields over the last 25 years.

Nursultan Nazarbayev , the president of Kazakhstan which marked 25 years of independence from the old Soviet Union two years ago, said, 'These are real stories of real people and will paint a picture of modern Kazakhstan. They will bring our achievements to life more than any statistics. We should make them central figures of our TV documentaries. They should become role models in a clear and balanced view of life.’

The project is one six initiatives included in President Nazarbayev’s newly announced 'Course towards the future: modernization of Kazakhstan’s identity.'

He explained, 'Changing our collective identity not only requires us to focus on the principles of modernization, but also concrete projects that enable us to adapt to  the challenges of the future without losing the great power of tradition.’

Timur Ryspekov

Ryspekov is a Kazakh schoolboy who has patented 28 projects in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and the mining industry. Timur is considered so gifted that he hit Canada's top 25 young mathematicians' list and an international company now wants to buy into one of his patents. Ryspekov is a graduate of the Lyceum School in Almaty and is listed among "100 Faces of Kazakhstan".

Another to feature on the prestige list of “New Faces” is 26-year-old Toskanbayev, an ambitious businessman engaged in “popularising, protecting and developing Kazakh entrepreneurial activities.”

President Nazarbayev & Arman Toskanbayev

His endeavour and persistence serve as an example for thousands of novice entrepreneurs.

The president said he hopes these and other people on the list will “draw attention to our modern society and the achievements of our citizens.'

He adds,”We may only have gained our independence 25 years ago but the scale of our achievements are clear. But we cannot see the human lives and dramatic stories behind the figures and facts of our progress. Human lives that are different, bright, dramatic and happy.”

The “100 Faces of Kazakhstan" initiative is one of several concrete projects that can be started in the coming years, he states.

He adds,”First, it is necessary to start working on a step-by-step transition of the Kazakh language to the Latin alphabet. We must approach this carefully and with sensitivity. It will require a steady and staged approach. And we have been preparing for this with caution since independence.

“The second concrete project is the “New Humanitarian Knowledge, 100 New Textbooks in the Kazakh Language” on social and human sciences.

“The reasons for it are clear: We must enable the comprehensive education of students in history, political science, sociology, philosophy, psychology, cultural studies, and the study of language.”

He goes on,'Third, our local authorities need to approach systematically and in an organized way the “Tugan Zher” programme.

'Fourth, we should strengthen protection for our national holy sites, another priority area for our citizens, and, fifth, we need competitiveness in the modern world and competitiveness of cultures.”

The relevance of these social initiatives spearheaded by President Nazarbayev for the country's future are underlined by Iveta Grigule, co-chairman of the European Parliament’s Kazakhstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee who, on a visit to the country in May, noted that the EU “has always considered Kazakhstan as its key partner not only in the region, but also in this part of the world.”

After meeting Nurlan Nigmatulin, the speaker of the Mazhilis, the lower house of the country’s Parliament, the MEP stressed the importance of the Kazakh President's policy aimed at resolving disputes through negotiations, calling the country a good example and praising its efforts in solving the Syrian conflict and stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan.

According to Grigule, the EU 'highly appreciates’ Kazakhstan's non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council as well as its role in ensuring security not only in Asia but across the globe.

The EU is Kazakhstan’s biggest trade partner representing over one third of its external trade and the largest foreign investor, representing over half of Foreign Direct Investment, and EU-Kazakhstan bilateral relations have significantly increased in the last two decades.

The EU and Kazakhstan succeeded in establishing successful cooperation in areas ranging from energy to transport, environment, research and security among others.

This year is seen as an important one for EU-Kazakhstan relations as it marks the 25th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and the start of a new chapter with the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU (EPCA) fully entering into force, As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, Kazakhstan also has an important role to play on the international stage.

A recent editorial by The Astana Times strongly endorses Kazakh policy, in particular the Modernisation of National Identity programme which was unveiled a year ago and aims to bolster the country’s traditions and values. This is one reason why extremist views have found little resonance in Kazakhstan.

Over the last year, the measures have started to be rolled out and the newspaper states: “It’s a reality President Nursultan Nazarbayev showed he fully understood when a year ago he coupled an ambitious programme of economic reform with plans to support and modernise Kazakhstan’s national identity. The announcement underlined the determination to build on a national character and cohesiveness, which has proved critical in the country’s remarkable journey over the last 26 years.”

It adds, “But there is nothing backward-looking about what is underway. The intention is not to lock the country in the past or freeze the national identity but instead adapt and modernise it in order to provide a launch-pad for Kazakhstan’s continued development.”

It goes on, “In some ways, what is happening in Kazakhstan can seem out of tune with events elsewhere in the world. We seem to be in a period, across the continents, where countries are becoming more insular, seemingly trying to turn back the clock or shut the door on the rest of the world.”

In a recent speech, the president says Kazakhstan has entered a new period in its history, adding, 'This year, in my state-of-the-nation address, I proclaimed the start of the Third Modernization of Kazakhstan.Thus, we launched two most important processes of modernization - the political reform and the modernization of economy.The goal is to join the world’s 30 most developed countries.

“Both modernization processes have crystal-clear goals along with the tasks, priorities and methods to achieve them. I am confident that these will all be achieved fully and in time.”

“However, they are not enough on their own.I am sure that the large-scale reforms that we have started should be complemented with advanced modernization of our - nation’s identity. This won’t just complement political and economic modernization but provide its core.

“It is worth mentioning that over the years of independence we have adopted and implemented a number of large programmes.'

In 2004 it implemented the “Madeni mura” programme aimed at restoration of Kazakhstan’s historic and cultural landmarks while, in 2013, the “Khalyk tarikh tolkynynda” programme was adopted enabling Kazakhstan to collect and study the documents dedicated to the history of the country from the world’s leading archives.

The president says, “Today we must embark on a bigger and more fundamental path.That is why I decided to share my vision of how we can take another step towards the future together and our nation’s identity to forge a single nation of strong and responsible people.

He adds, 'A new global reality came without a knock and permission to everyone’s door – that is why today almost all countries are facing the tasks of modernization.Time does not stop, and, therefore, modernization, like history itself, is an ongoing process.

“At the new break of eras, Kazakhstan has a unique historical chance to build its own better future through renewal and new ideas. I am sure that the people of Kazakhstan, especially the younger generation, understand the importance of our modernization.

“In the new reality, the inner aspiration for renewal is the key principle of our development. In order to survive one needs to change. Anyone who does not do so, will be carried away by the heavy sands of history.”

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