The creation of a democratic society and a State governed by the rule of law is impossible without the active participation of young people in politics. In the process of forming a civil society, it is necessary to effectively manage the political activity of young people. In the context of economic and political transformations and the crisis of value systems, it is important to define and form a model of political and social socialization among young people. Only under this condition can we speak about the continuity of the political context of the development of society. For Kazakhstan today, raising the level of political awareness among young people is of fundamental importance. Young people need to understand their role and place in the political process so that they can contribute to the stability and progress of the country.

It is obvious that the younger generation occupies its own niche in the social structure due to its sensitivity to social changes, and it is ready to actively participate in their implementation. In our country, young people have a variety of ways to realize their own opportunities in social and political activities.

Today, Kazakhstan's youth have significantly more opportunities to participate in the country's political life than ever before. However, this does not mean that young people actively use the opportunities provided to them. Many domestic studies show a rather low interest of young people in politics.

One of the main criteria for the influence of young people on the life of the country is the percentage of civil servants belonging to the age category «up to 35 years».

According to the data presented in the National Report on the State of Civil Service in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the average age of civil servants in recent years is within 40 years^[135]. 17% of all civil servants in Kazakhstan are citizens under 30 years of age, 36.2% – from 30 to 40 years. At the same time, it is noted that the dynamics of reducing the share of young people in the civil service continues (in 2018, the share of young people was 24.6%, in 2019 – 23%, in 2020 – 21.6%, in 2021 – 18.1%, in 2022 – 17,8%, 2023 – 17,8%, 2023 – 17,8%). This indicates a systemic problem in the process of attracting and retaining young professionals in public authorities. According to the exit survey conducted in the above-mentioned state agencies, the reasons for leaving the civil service are: change of field of activity (88.8% of respondents), family circumstances (23.3%), low wages (22.4%), dissatisfaction with working conditions (8.6%), ethics and relationships within the state agency (8.6%), lack of opportunities for development (7.8%), inefficient organization of the work process (5.2%). In general, among employees of all government agencies, more than half (51%) of respondents thought about changing their activities, including: 22% – want to move to another department or another government agency, 10%-go to the private sector, 4.8% – go to the quasi-public sector, 14.1% – want to engage in entrepreneurial activity^[136].

To change this trend, as well as to attract talented young people, work continues on the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve. Currently, out of 350 reservists, 261 people (more than 74%) are employed, while 28 (10.7%) people hold political positions, 8 (3%) – positions of the «A» corps^[137]. Reservists actively participate in the development and implementation of projects of state bodies in the field of education, construction, improving public services, fighting corruption, de-bureaucratization, digitalization, regional development, etc.

However, the scale of such programs does not yet allow us to radically change the existing structure. The observed trend of decreasing the share of young people in the state apparatus may in the long term lead to a decrease in innovation potential and limit the flow of fresh ideas into the public administration system.

An important form of political participation of young people is their electoral participation, which is manifested in participation or non-participation in elections at all levels. During the last Presidential elections in 2022 and the elections of deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and maslikhats at all levels, many experts noted a higher percentage of participation of young people in them.

Upon reaching the age of 25, our fellow citizens are entitled to implement the passive right to vote by nominating themselves for deputies of the Mazhilis, based on Article 51 of the Basic Law of the country, and upon reaching the age of 30 – for deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. According to the results of the elections in 2023, 12 deputies under the age of 35 were elected to the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (12% of the total number), which is the highest figure in the entire history of independent Kazakhstan.

Our citizens who have reached the age of 20 can run for election to the primary representative bodies of government (maslikhats of all levels), taking into account the provisions of Article 86 of the Constitution.

In 2020, Kazakh political analyst Andrey Chebotarev noted that «according to official statistics, there are 216 regional, district and city maslikhats in Kazakhstan consisting of 3,074 deputies. The age cross-section shows the predominance of the group aged 51-60 years (42.1%); the second place in this indicator is occupied by people over 60 years (29.8%). Young people under 30 years of age among deputies of maslikhats are only 2.7%. The number of women deputies is 26.1%^[138]».

In general, it can be noted that young people are currently still insufficiently represented in the authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan. In representative bodies, the share of young people is insignificant, although it shows an upward trend. The proportion of young people in the executive branch is gradually decreasing. The national report «Youth of Kazakhstan-2021» has already noted this trend and recommended the Agency for Civil Service Affairs to step up efforts to promote public service among young people, raising awareness about career opportunities, social security and the importance of participation in decision-making^[139]. It should be noted that the situation has not changed and the trend towards a decrease in the share of young people among civil servants of the executive branch of government has not yet been overcome.

One of the key indicators of youth participation in the social development of the Republic of Kazakhstan is their involvement in the activities of youth wings of political parties, youth public organizations, as well as in various forms of interest associations.

Participation in youth public organizations is an important element of social adaptation and civic socialization of young people. Unlike traditional institutions of socialization, such as education or labor activity, youth associations are built on the principles of volunteerism, self-organization, and self-realization. Through such structures, young people not only gain experience in collective activity, leadership and responsibility, but also form an active civic position. These organizations represent the interests of young people before the state and society in the fields of education, leisure, legal protection and other relevant areas.

Political parties that do not yet have a stable influence on the formation of civil consciousness in Kazakhstan's society face difficulties in creating effective youth structures. Youth wings of parties often do not represent independent political forces capable of articulating the interests and goals of young people as a special social group, as well as developing strategies to achieve them. Nevertheless, youth party structures remain one of the three main channels of youth participation in the country's socio-political life.

The second direction is the activity of youth public organizations themselves, which, despite a certain potential, often face a lack of a clear mission, a vague target audience, and weak institutional support. The third group consists of non-political NGOs and NGOs that unite young people with interests in the fields of culture, sports, ecology, volunteerism and other areas. These associations contribute to the development of soft skills, social mobility and strengthening of horizontal ties within the youth environment.

For States with a developed democratic system, the most important element of interaction between society and the State is civil society, which is based on independent NGOs and NGOs. They partially assume the functions traditionally performed by the state, act as institutions of public control and channels for expressing citizens ' interests. In such countries, political parties compete for power in fair elections, which creates conditions for real influence of citizens on politics and encourages the inclusion of youth themes in political programs, charters and platforms of candidates.

Against the background of general political apathy, which is typical even for countries with stable democracies, young people often become an active electoral resource that can influence the results of elections. In the Republic of Kazakhstan, however, this trend is less pronounced: the youth electorate does not yet play a system-forming role, and objective indicators of the growth of its political activity remain limited or poorly expressed.

In this regard, it is recommended to strengthen state and public policies for the development of youth participation, strengthening support for both youth public organizations and youth structures associated with political parties. It is necessary to promote the institutional strengthening of youth civic initiatives, the formation of clear programs for the development of youth policy, as well as to encourage the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes at all levels.

Realizing that it is difficult to attract the young electorate with traditional forms of propaganda of their views – programs, platforms, posters, rallies, marches-some public figures resort to electronic forms of struggle for the votes of young voters: social networks «WhatsApp», «X», «Facebook», «Telegram», blogging and others^[140].

For the youth of the Republic of Kazakhstan today, one of the determining factors of their political preferences is the speed of obtaining information via the Internet. Rural youth (low speed) prefer to receive most of their information, including political information, through television channels. Urban youth (high speed) – through all types of social networks.

The system of registration of a political party in the Republic of Kazakhstan (min 20 thousand members, etc.) creates difficult conditions for young people to participate in this process.

They are more concerned about getting a quality education, employment, salary levels, housing, and career development than they are about participating in the country's political or public life. They do not see the activity of the country's traditional political parties and believe that any youth organizations are not able to solve the problems of young^[141]people.

All political parties in Kazakhstan in one way or another include youth policy issues in their political program, but not all parties pay due attention to the work on attracting young people to participate in party activities and creating special youth branches. To assess directly the work of Kazakhstan's political parties with young people, it is possible to analyze the main electronic resources of each of the parties, since the Internet is currently the communication channel that is most in demand among the younger generation.

It should be noted that currently the most promising forms of work with young people are shown by the Youth Wing of «Zhastyr rukhy» of the «Amanat» party. According to the association itself, there are more than 100,000 young people in their ranks in 20 branches throughout Kazakhstan^[142]. They have already completed more than 2000 projects, including:

- «Corps of Young Deputies», aimed at consolidating young deputies of the Mazhilis of the Parliament and maslikhats of all levels of the AMANAT party and forming an effective, efficient youth community for the implementation of the party's election program;

- «Menin elim-menin tilim», the purpose of which is to expand the scope of language use in society by popularizing the study of the Kazakh language among young people and increasing its potential;

- Environmental education project «TazaLike»;

- informing young people about special state programs, youth grants and educational platforms within the framework of the party project «Zhastarga Kenes»;

- the military-patriotic project «QIASAR», aimed at fostering patriotism, high moral and psychological qualities and eliminating the tendency to avoid military service among young people, and many others.

The People's Party of Kazakhstan has its own youth wing, which aims to create a system of fair social elevators that allow citizens of the republic to fully realize their talents. Unfortunately, the party's website only declares some measures to support young people, and there are no specific actions or activities of the youth wing itself.

There were no references to the youth association of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan «Ak Zhol» on their Internet portal. The National competition project «XXI gasyrdagy Alashtyn ak Zholy» was also presented, in which citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan and abroad aged from 18 to 35 years old who are engaged in research on the topic of the «Alash» movement can take part. The main goal of the contest is to understand and popularize the political experience, economic program and spiritual heritage of the Alash movement in the context of modernizing modern Kazakhstan society^[143].

The results of monitoring of the Internet portal, the youth association and the People's Democratic Patriotic Party «Auyl» were not found. The only party project that can be indirectly attributed to the youth direction is the commission «Meyirim Kushagy», which is aimed at popularizing national values, preserving national education, as well as considering the protection of the rights of the family, women and children.

The Internet resources of the National Social Democratic Party and the BAYTAQ Green Party also do not contain any special youth organizations within these party structures.

As for the youngest political party in Kazakhstan – the Republica party, it can be noted that many representatives of active Kazakh youth were at the origins of its creation. In addition, the Republica party Respublica at its extraordinary third congress decided to create a youth association «Respublica Jastary». This movement will unite young people between the ages of 18 and 35 with an active citizenship position, engaged in science, sports, creativity, entrepreneurship and other areas of activity^[144]. The congress defined the directions of work of the youth association «Respublica jastary», including prevention and reduction of risks from gambling and lotteries, creation of an equal and inclusive society for all, fight against drugs, promotion of a healthy lifestyle, reading and education. But it is too early to talk about any significant results and implemented projects.

The next form of political activity of young people is working in various youth associations. At the beginning of 2022, there were 547 youth organizations operating in Kazakhstan. At the same time, in compliance with the legally established requirement for non-governmental organizations to submit annual reports on their activities, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan received 432 non-zero reports in 2021. This circumstance indicates the formal existence of a large number of youth NGOs without conducting permanent activities. Many organizations in this category are also characterized by a lack of systematic information work, including their own websites and accounts in popular social networks^[145].

Youth public associations and organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan have minimal financial and organizational resources (rent of premises, office equipment, hiring specialists) and can only implement projects that are provided with state funding (grants). Problems that require a systematic and long-term (several years) approach and financing (work with investors, kennels for homeless animals, socialization of «difficult teenagers», etc.) are beyond their power.

Despite the low activity of young people in the work of party and public associations, however, we can agree with the opinion that young people, participating in civil and political movements and organizations, not only achieve certain goals, but also meet interesting and enthusiastic peers, acquire social prestige, communication and analytical skills, and deepen their professional development. understanding social reality^[146].

One of the forms of civic activity of young people is their participation in the work of ethno-cultural associations under the auspices of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.

Under the Assembly, the youth association «Zhastary Assembly» was created, the purpose of which is to develop and consolidate youth on the basis of public consent and national unity of the people of Kazakhstan, support youth initiatives within the framework of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan and develop social activity of Kazakhstani youth.

Another area of political participation of young people in Kazakhstan is the volunteer movement, which has not only direct, but also indirect advantages. In addition to the direct social benefits created by volunteers, they accumulate experience in civic activism, social skills and connections, develop an active attitude, and social optimism. Volunteer work and the associated formation of social capital creates the basis for further conscious civic participation in political life and distracts young people from destructive participation in social unrest.

According to Deputy Minister of Information and Public Development Daniyar Kadyrov, in 2019 the number of volunteer organizations was more than 50, and now there are 680 of them. If in 2019 the number of volunteers was 50 thousand, now the number of volunteers in the republic exceeds 200 thousand^[147].

The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan also allows such forms of participation of citizens, including young people, in the public life of the country as mass petitions, strikes, official appeals to state bodies, drawing up public memoranda, etc. However, in reality, all these activities are difficult to implement for both adults and young people.

Despite the huge potential inherent in the youth of Kazakhstan, it is still not used effectively enough. The involvement of young citizens in politics is becoming an increasingly visible and important social phenomenon. However, this process faces a lack of effective mechanisms that can meet the growing interests of young people in politics as a sphere of professional and personal self-determination.

According to expert estimates, the main obstacles to the inclusion of young people in political life are the following factors:

- weak orientation of the state youth policy towards the formation of necessary political and civic competencies among young people;

- ineffective methods of identifying and involving young people in political processes;

- distrust on the part of political elites, who rarely consider young people as an equal partner.

In these circumstances, the need to rethink the model of interaction between the government and civil society becomes obvious. Instead of the outdated corporate-protective contact model, it is necessary to build a horizontal, partner-based dialogue. Freeing youth initiatives from excessive state tutelage can significantly increase the level of independence and responsibility of citizens, including young people, for the processes taking place in the country.

Young people can and should become a key driver of positive change by becoming more actively involved in government and public affairs. This will create conditions for the formation of valuable skills, strengthen the sense of social significance, and allow them to realize themselves as an active and popular group.

This requires new approaches to youth political recruitment. Existing mechanisms developed within the framework of government programs often resemble administrative «incubators» for training managerial personnel, but do not contribute to the development of critical thinking, creativity and independence among young people. The development of such qualities as initiative, responsibility, and communication skills among young participants should become a priority in new educational and political education programs.

Public associations and parties should step up their work with young people, focusing on systematic efforts to find them, involve them and integrate them into institutional processes. Special attention should be paid to the inclusion of young people in party life, which today is often formal and closed. To change the situation, it is necessary to create permanent educational centers aimed at improving political literacy, developing leadership and analytical competencies among young people.

In addition, it is necessary to update the practice of forming the personnel reserve of political parties: reducing the age limit for participation in governance, creating transparent and competitive career growth mechanisms, and motivating young people to participate in politics both in the center and in the field.

Thus, in the context of global challenges and challenges for the modernization of Kazakhstan, the ruling elite needs to build a stable system of interaction with young people based on trust and opportunities. Otherwise, there is a risk that young people will either not solve the tasks that the state sets for them, or they will realize their ambitions outside the country. Young people should not only be listened to, but also really involved in the decision-making process, creating conditions for their professional, intellectual and civic development. Only in such a society can truly ambitious development goals be realized.

 

Control questions

 

1. Explain the goals and objectives of the state's youth policy.
2. List and describe the main directions of implementing the youth policy.
3. Name and briefly describe the principles of implementing the youth policy.
4. Describe the strategic priorities laid down in the Concept of State Youth Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
5. Describe the expected results of the implementation of the State Youth Policy Concept.
6. List the main tools and mechanisms for implementing youth policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
7. Describe the role of youth organizations in the implementation of youth policy.
8. Explain the differences between direct and indirect instruments of state economic policy.
9. Give examples of government programs and projects aimed at supporting young people
10. List the forms of social support provided to young families.

 

Questions for discussion

 

1. Social support for young people and young families in Kazakhstan faces a number of challenges, especially in rural areas and remote regions. There are differences in access to social services, public awareness of their rights, and the availability of necessary infrastructure resources. Vulnerable youth groups are more often excluded from the support system, which requires a more targeted and flexible approach on the part of the State. What challenges and barriers exist in ensuring access to social support for young people in the regions of Kazakhstan?
2. The participation of young people in the social and political life of Kazakhstan is determined both by the availability of accessible mechanisms of involvement, and by the level of trust in institutions and motivation of young people themselves. The development of civic activism is manifested in a variety of forms-from participation in elections and volunteering to digital activism in social networks. However, young people still face barriers in implementing their initiatives and entering decision-making systems. Discuss the extent to which young people in Kazakhstan are involved in political decision-making and participation in public life.
3. The state youth policy of Kazakhstan is being transformed under the influence of digitalization, globalization and demographic shifts. The very concept of priorities and interests of young people is changing, and the need for modern, flexible interaction tools is growing. Effective development of youth potential requires rethinking strategies focused on digital literacy, global mobility and sustainable identity of the younger generation. What are the prospects for the development of youth policy in Kazakhstan in the context of digitalization, globalization and demographic changes?

 

Case studies

 

Case 1. «Concept assessment: how well does the strategy work?» The Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan has instructed you to conduct a public examination of the effectiveness of the implementation of the Concept of state Youth Policy until 2025.

Task:

- briefly describe the main provisions of the Concept;

- identify the strengths and weaknesses of the document implementation using the example of a specific region.

- develop recommendations for improving the Concept of youth engagement mechanisms;

- prepare a short analytical report for the Ministry.

 

Case 2. «Tools in action: digital platform for young people».

In the context of digitalization, state youth policy faces a challenge: how to reach and activate young people with the help of modern technologies. A team of young IT specialists proposed to the Ministry of Information and Public Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan to create a mobile application «Qazaq Youth», which will combine various digital tools:

- search for youth projects and grants;

- the opportunity to participate in volunteer and civic initiatives;

- database of vacancies and internships;

- legal and psychological consultations online;

- a platform for youth discussions.

Tasks:

1) Make a list of the main tools of youth policy (institutional, legal, financial, informational, educational, etc.). Which of them can be digitalized? Which – ones don't? Why?

2) Evaluate the proposed app in terms of:

- functionality (what should be included in it).

- the needs of young people (which functions will be most in demand);

- state goals (what goals of youth policy it will help to implement).

3) Model development. Suggest the application structure (main sections, a brief description of the interface). Formulate ideas for the visual style and slogan (branding).

4) Develop a scenario for launching and popularizing it among young people (through social networks, universities, events, etc.).

5) Analyze possible risks and challenges. Suggest solutions to minimize these risks.

 

Case 3. «Youth and politics: how do I get involved?»

On the eve of elections to maslikhats and akimats at the local level, the Central Election Commission published data on turnout by age group. The results show that the turnout rate among young people aged 18 to 25 was less than 25%. At the same time, most young people either did not know about the elections, or did not believe that their vote could change anything. In this regard, the Central Election Commission is launching a pilot project to increase the level of political culture and civic participation of young people in three regions of Kazakhstan. Your team is part of an initiative group that develops a model for involving young people in political life.

Tasks:

- analyze possible reasons for the low political activity of young people.

- develop at least three initiatives or mechanisms that could motivate young people to participate in socio-political processes;

- cleave a list of tools for youth participation in political life that already exist in the Republic of Kazakhstan or can be implemented.

Develop a campaign or project to increase youth civic engagement. Choose one of the following formats:

- social challenge.

- educational video series.

- festival of civic participation;

- the project "Youth chooses!" to increase the turnout in elections.

Include in the project:

- campaign’s goal.

- target audience.

- about new messages).

- to the promotion channels.

- partners and participants;

- about expected results.

---

^[135] National Report on the State of the Civil Service in the Republic of Kazakhstan. 2024. – p. 9. – https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/qyzmet/documents/details/640535?lang=ru. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[136] Same reference. – С. 9–10.

^[137] National Report on the State of the Civil Service in the Republic of Kazakhstan. – 2023. – p. 7.

^[138] Only 2.7% of Maslikhat Deputies Are Youth – Political Analyst. Electronic resource. https://www.inform.kz/ru/molodezhi-sredi-deputatov-maslihatov-vsego-2-7-politolog_a3715389. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[139] National Report "Youth of Kazakhstan – 2021"– 2021» // https://eljastary.kz/ru/reports/18762/. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[140] Fowler B. Engaging Young People in Politics // AudienceNET. – 2014. April, 28th. URL: http:// www.audiencenet.co.uk/engaging-young-people-in-politics. Date of access: 16.04.2025

^[141] Dina Sharipova, Serik Beymenbetov. Youth in Kazakhstan: Assessing Values, Expectations, and Aspirations 2021. Friedrich Ebert Foundation Representation in Kazakhstan. DELUXE Printery Publishing. – p. 70.

^[142] https://jastarruhy.kz/about-us/. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[143] https://akzhol.kz/ru/blog/demokraticheskaia-partiia-kazahstana-a-zhol-obyiavliaet-tradicionnj-obshtenacionalnj-konkurs-hh-asrda-alasht-a-zhol-12. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[144] https://respublica-partiyasy.kz/about-party#party-structure. Date of access 16.04.2025

^[145] «.National Report Youth of Kazakhstan». – Astana, 2022. – p. 148.

^[146] Spannring, R. (2009) Youth Participation. 1st edn. Südwestdeutscher Verlag für Hochschulschriften

^[147] How Many Volunteers Are There in Kazakhstan. June 20, 2023. https://www.inform.kz/ru/skol-ko-volonterov-v-kazahstane_a4081065. Date of access April 16, 2025.