According to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated December 15, 2006 «On Culture», «culture is a set of cultural values aimed at the harmonious development of the individual, education of patriotism and satisfaction of aesthetic needs and interests of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan».

State policy in the field of culture is a set of measures taken by State bodies aimed at creating, reviving, preserving, protecting, developing, distributing and using cultural and spiritual values.

The development of the foundations and gradual implementation of the state cultural policy is a necessary condition for successful progress along the path of cultural education of the population, a guarantee for the comprehensive development of members of a democratic society, and the construction of a new civil society based on world and national cultural values.

The main directions of cultural influence on public and political life:

- socialization and education of an individual, which includes the adaptation of a person to the conditions of public life, the ability to regulate their behavior in accordance with the norms established by society;

- development and approval of a system of values, which is understood as a certain set of phenomena of material and spiritual life that act as guidelines and attitudes in the activities of an individual, classes, strata, nations and nationalities. The system of values serves as an important regulator of political actions, a measure of evaluating the behavior of other people, their participation in political life;

- influence on the creation of models for the functioning of political instruments, the development and adoption of political decisions, standards of action, behavior and their implementation in various situations of political life.

Experts suggest considering cultural policy in a broad and narrow, applied sense. In a broad sense, it takes into account the cultural aspects of all state programs of economic, environmental, social, and national development. In this regard, state programs for the creation of industrial infrastructure must necessarily be subject to mandatory public and independent expertise of specialists in the field of culture. In the narrow sense of the word, cultural policy involves the development of a concept for the functioning and further progress of educational, scientific, and cultural systems, creating for these purposes a set of norms and principles that determine the content, development, and dissemination of culture, and regulating trends in the progress of spiritual and valuable aspects of public life.

Many researchers, addressing the problem of relations between the state and culture, focused mainly on the financial side. For example, the Russian researcher O. Bogacheva identifies three types of relations between the state and the sphere of culture. Each of them corresponds to its own model of state funding of culture and art, and hence the policy in this area:

- the state of inspiration, where there is an indirect influence on culture through the promotion of sponsorship and patronage through the provision of tax incentives (Switzerland and the United States);

- the patron state, in which it isolates the cultural sphere from the direct influence of politics, creating intermediary structures that distribute funds received from the budget at their own discretion, guided by their own criteria (Great Britain and the Netherlands);

- the architect state, where the development of cultural policy is given special importance and active influence on the development of cultural sectors is carried out through the system of the state apparatus (the Nordic countries).

Yugoslav researchers M. Dragicevic-Sesic and B. Stojkovic identify five main models of state policy in the field of culture:

- the liberal model, in which the state proclaims «neutrality» in the field of culture, does not interfere with its autonomy. The main role in regulating cultural life is played by various foundations (USA);

- partially-the state model assumes that the state delegates its obligations in the field of culture to a special body (art council) (Great Britain, Ireland);

- the bureaucratic-educational model is characterized by the absolute power of the state over culture and control exercised through the political and ideological apparatus (the socialist states, as well as Sweden and the Netherlands. In the latter, there is no direct state intervention in the creative process);

- prestige-educational model, in which culture is interpreted as a factor of national identity. The State is responsible for the national heritage, as this is related to the country's prestige at the international level (France);

- national emancipation model, which is characterized by the development and preservation of an original cultural tradition that was suppressed in previous periods of history. Cultural policy here often suffers from nationalism and even chauvinism. Another feature of this model is the spread of elementary culture among the population. This pattern is typical for developing countries (Senegal, Peru), and it is also found in former Soviet republics (Kyrgyzstan, Moldova).

Despite some differences in the above classifications, they demonstrate the existence of several options for implementing state cultural policy; the possibility of the existence of culture without strict control by state bodies; suggest various ways to attract non-state investment in the field of culture; show that the sphere of culture, even in developed countries, cannot do without state support, direct or indirect.

Cultural policy is a direction of state policy related to planning, designing, implementing and ensuring the cultural life of the state and society.

Cultural policy is «the art of the possible» in shaping the relationship of the state, society and citizens to culture. Cultural relations in society are determined by political, economic, legal and other aspects.

State cultural policy is always developed and implemented in a specific socio-cultural context and cannot fail to take into account the specific features of each region.

In 2014, the «Concept of Cultural Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan» was adopted, the main goal of which is «spiritual modernization and renewal of national consciousness, formation of a single cultural space of the country, competitive cultural mentality and high value orientations of Kazakhstanis, development and popularization of modern cultural clusters that affect the successful development of the economy, increase tourist attractiveness and a positive international image countries».

Objectives of Kazakhstan's cultural policy:

- formation of spiritual and moral guidelines of citizens, new Kazakhstan patriotism, a stable system of values and creative foundations of a society of universal labor;

- creation and promotion of national symbols as permanent protection against foreign ideological influences, formation of own national brands;

- further preservation, study and popularization of the historical and cultural heritage, formation of a cultural and geographical map of the shrines of Kazakhstan;

- development of Kazakhstan's cultural space on the basis of preserving ethnic diversity and harmonious development of the culture of the people of Kazakhstan with the active participation of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan;

- promotion of modern Kazakh culture in the global world;

- creating conditions for the intensive development of a competitive cultural environment and modern cultural clusters;

- creating vivid artistic images that embody the best examples of modernity, remarkable historical events and artifacts, cultural heritage and traditions replicated through all types, genres and trends of art-cinema, animation, literature, painting and others;

- preserving and strengthening the national identity and unity of the people

Kazakhstan based on the principles of citizenship, spiritual renewal, popularization of the values of the «Rukhani Zhangyru» program;

- extensive use of the historical and cultural landscape of Kazakhstan for the development of domestic and inbound cultural tourism based on the symbolic heritage of the people and the cultural and geographical map of the country's shrines "Sacred Geography of Kazakhstan".

It is important to note that the state's cultural activities should be:

- an integral part of all directions of state policy in general, without exception, reflecting its spiritual, valuable and moral-normative aspects;

- the most important component of state policy, which in modern conditions can only be complex;

- to form the actual socio-cultural policy (in the narrow sense) as a special direction of state and public activities aimed at stimulating spiritual, valuable and socio-normative manifestations of a person.

An important role in the implementation of state policy in the field of culture is played by the organizational element. Moreover, this is not only the structure of the authorities themselves, but also a network of cultural organizations that are directly responsible for implementing the policy. The basis of the organizational element in the interaction of all its components should be dialogue, political partnership, and mutual responsibility. Within the state, there are specialized cultural management bodies (ministries, departments, departments, etc.) whose responsibilities include developing policies and strategies for the development of the cultural sphere, ensuring its activities through various resources (legal, economic, financial, human, etc.) and monitoring the implementation of these decisions.

The system of cultural institutions can consist of two parts-the state and non-state sectors. The public sector, which is fully supported by the State, should create opportunities for people to exercise their cultural rights in full, regardless of their position in society and, above all, their ability to pay. The state can also create institutions of a kind that other policy actors are not currently interested in, establish their activities, and then transfer them to the non-state sector. The latter includes cultural organizations created by businesses or civil society to achieve their own cultural goals. But they are not excluded from the state: they operate within the framework of existing legislation, can defend their interests when making political decisions, and can also receive funding from the state for certain projects^[123].

The main directions of state policy in the sphere of culture.

Preservation and development of the national cultural heritage. Protection of historical and cultural monuments. Development of museum business and archival storage. Popularization of traditional crafts, folk art and folklore.

Support for creative activities. Development of theaters, film industry, literature, music and visual arts. State funding and grant support for creative projects. Promotion of Kazakhstani authors and performers at the international level.

Cultural education and cultural accessibility. Development of libraries and cultural centers. Conducting educational and awareness-raising activities. Ensuring equal access of the population to cultural events.

Digitalization of culture. Digitization of cultural heritage and creation of virtual museums. Development of online platforms for the dissemination of cultural content. Introduction of modern technologies in cultural production.

International cooperation in the field of culture. Organization of international cultural festivals and exhibitions. Support of exchange programs for cultural figures. Promotion of the cultural brand of Kazakhstan abroad.

Features of state policy implementation in education and culture.

Regulatory and legal regulation.

- development and updating of legislative acts in the field of education and culture;

- monitoring the implementation of educational standards and requirements;

- regulation of the activities of cultural organizations and creative associations.

Financing and support of educational and cultural initiatives.

- state and private financing of educational and cultural programs;

- grants and scholarships for students, teachers and cultural workers;

- development of public-private partnership mechanisms in the field of culture.

The role of state and public institutions.

- Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Culture and Information, local government bodies.

- public councils, professional associations and unions of cultural workers.

Performance monitoring and evaluation.

- adoption of quality assessment systems for education and cultural projects;

- conducting independent audits and accreditations of educational institutions and cultural organizations.

New laws in the field of education and culture.

Law on Digitalization of Education and Culture:

- in the depths of digital educational platforms and online courses;

- creation of digital archives of cultural heritage;

- ensuring equal access to educational and cultural resources via the Internet.

The Law on the Development of the Creative Industry:

- support for creative industries such as design, animation, design, IT and media;

- development of grant financing mechanisms for young creative professionals;

- broadening the tax and legal framework for cultural startups.

The Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage:

- strengthening control over the preservation of historical monuments;

- to take strict measures against the illegal export of cultural property;

- creation of a state program for the restoration and reconstruction of cultural heritage sites.

Law on Updating Educational Standards:

- approval of new programs that meet international requirements;

- development of dual education and practice-oriented teaching methods;

- improvement of teachers 'qualifications and introduction of digital-based certification.

Thus, state policy in the field of education and culture is the basis for social and economic development of the country. Its effective implementation requires a comprehensive approach that includes legislative regulation, financial support, the introduction of modern technologies and international cooperation. Continuous improvement of the education system and cultural policy will ensure the training of competitive specialists, preserve cultural heritage and improve the quality of life of society as a whole.

The state cultural policy is aimed at preserving and maintaining the continuity of national and cultural traditions, national cultural heritage, ensuring the accessibility of cultural values, creating opportunities for attracting various segments of the population to socio-cultural creativity.

 

Control questions

 

1. Which key areas of state policy in the field of education would you highlight?
2. How does digitalization affect the development of the educational process?
3. What measures are being taken to preserve and develop the national cultural heritage?
4. What is the role of the state in supporting the creative industry?
5. What impact does international cooperation have on the education and cultural system?
6. What new laws have been adopted in the field of education and culture in recent years?
7. How can we assess the effectiveness of public policy in these areas?
8. What are the functions of social policy in ensuring the sustainable development of society?
9. What measures does the state take to regulate the labor market and reduce unemployment?
10. How does State cultural policy contribute to strengthening national identity?

 

Questions for discussion

 

1. The social policy of a modern state is a balance between social protection and economic efficiency. How does the state determine priorities in social policy? When does government intervention in the social sphere become excessive and may slow down economic development?
2. Should the state regulate the educational services market and provide more opportunities for private initiatives?
3. How do you think it is possible to balance state support for traditional culture and the development of a modern creative industry in Kazakhstan?

 

Case studies

 

Case 1. Social policy of the state: essence, content, functions.

Imagine that the Government of a country is facing increasing social inequality, increasing poverty, and declining access to social services. In the course of parliamentary debates, two approaches are considered:

- reduction of state regulation and financing of social programs.

- constructive involvement of the private sector and public-private partnership mechanisms.

Task.

Analyze the pros and cons of both approaches. Propose a comprehensive social policy model that takes into account the balance between government regulation and market mechanisms.

 

Case 2. Labor policy and labor market.

In country N, there is an imbalance in the labor market. There is a shortage of qualified specialists in high-tech industries (IT, engineering, and biotechnology). At the same time, youth unemployment remains high, especially among university and college graduates. Many young professionals cannot find a job in their specialty or face low salaries. The Government considers two main ways to solve the problem:

- development of professional retraining and advanced training programs (including short-term courses, dual education, cooperation between universities and business);

- easing the involvement of foreign specialists (temporary work visas, preferential conditions for foreign professionals).

Task:

- appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches.

- put forward a set of measures to form an effective labor policy in country N;

- how can state policy encourage employers to invest in personnel development?

 

Case 3. State policy in the sphere of culture.

Kazakhstan's cultural policy is aimed at preserving the national heritage, supporting the arts and developing creative industries. However, there have been significant changes in recent years. Traditional cultural institutions (museums, theaters, libraries) are experiencing a lack of funding, and the audience is shrinking. Modern creative industries (film, music, digital content, game development) are rapidly developing, attracting young people and investment. Young artists, directors, and musicians often prefer private funding or international grants over government support.

The Government faces several questions. How to finance and promote traditional culture in the context of modern industries? How can digital technologies be used to promote national culture? How can we encourage the development of independent cultural projects at the state level?

Task:

- develop a strategy for state support of culture that takes into account the development of new formats;

- what measures and Programs will help attract the attention of young people to traditional culture?

- how can digital technologies be integrated into the cultural sphere?

- how well do state cultural programs work?

---

^[123] Fundamentals of the State Cultural Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. https://textbook.tou.edu.kz/books/222/12.html. Accessed on 03.03.2025