# Activism: Youth, and Politics in Kazakhstan CAP Paper 217, February 2019

Daniyar Kosnazarov’s research interests include youth, the country’s population, gov- social media, and popular culture. He is Editor-in- ernment policies in such crucial areas as education, housing, and Chief of Steppe, an independent digital media outlet in employment will need to address Kazakhstan that covers technology, entrepreneurship, the challenges and education, leisure, and art. He has experience working post-millennials face. Strategies in both the government and private think tanks in for communicating these policies will also require significant mod- Kazakhstan, and previously served as Chair of the ification, as the vast majority of Department of Strategic Analysis at Narxoz University, young citizens are currently un- evaluating strategy implementation. He holds an aware of government initiatives MA in International Relations and Regional Studies and projects. from Tsukuba University, Japan (2012), and a BA in The aim of this study is not to International Relations from Selcuk University, Turkey speculate on the forthcoming suc- (2009). cession in Kazakhstan. Neverthe- less, using this “known unknown” ompared to their parents, of inexpensive smartphones and historical event to problematize who were born and social- PCs, and wide variety of social state-youth relations in today’s Cized during the Soviet media platforms present vast fragile post-financial crisis and Union, Kazakh millennials and opportunities to consume global pre-transition context is an ur- post-millennials have had greater content and interact with locals gent task, due in particular to gen- opportunities to study, travel, and foreigners alike. erational differences between the and express themselves on social ruling class and the youth. Not- media through art, fiction, or Even if young citizens of Kazakh- withstanding that the political es- music. Although the state and stan have lived their entire lives tablishment is slowly rejuvenat- elites continue to exert strong under a single leader, Nursultan ing, with politicians born in the power over many economic Nazarbayev, the presidential suc- 1970s taking up ministerial and sectors, both cohorts have wider cession to come could become a mayoral posts, the persistence of options than their predecessors critical moment for consolidating nomenklatura-style management in terms of employment, social generational consciousness, sig- practices alienates post-Soviet mobility, private business, and nificantly affecting millennials’ generations. There is no strong cultural activities. Likewise, and particularly post-millennials’ bond between the two—and the while the government’s restric- survival strategies. While many consensus may become weaker if tions on media, religion, and things will depend on power dy- outdated engagement techniques public expression are growing, namics within the establishment, are not changed. the younger generations are post-Nazarbayev-era state man- being raised in a comparatively agers may seek public support to As post-Karimov Uzbekistan has free country. The high level of legitimize their new rule. Since demonstrated, in its first years in Internet penetration, availability the youth comprise one-fifth of power a new leadership aims to

CAP Fellows Paper 217 1 win the hearts and minds of ordi- lennials are using Instagram, practices of Kazakh youth. nary citizens. It is unclear wheth- YouTube, and Facebook not only er this populist trend will contin- to watch funny videos, post sel- As these generations get older, ue or end once president Shavkat fies, or read news, but also to their interest in politics will grow. Mirziyoyev secures his own power consume political content cre- It is therefore important not only vertical, but the power transition ated mostly by agemates. In this to learn how they differ from older has created a window for certain study, I focus on four of the most generations in terms of their use democratic changes that offer a vivid and popular digital content of social media, but also to scru- rare chance for the establishment creators, who are practicing civic tinize (4) the social media strat- of new relations between the activism on social media and rais- egies young key opinion leaders young and the authorities. Ka- ing youth awareness about many (KOLs) use to attract attention zakhstan, too, may one day open issues. Topics recognized as wor- and shape the views of their au- such a “transition window,” and thy of coverage by young con- diences. In many ways, this de- if it does, it will be vital for civil tent-makers may provide us with pends on the content’s topical fo- society to be prepared to clearly insight into what “politics” means cus, how the content is produced, articulate the demands and ex- to young people and how they use its length and visual design, and pectations of young voters. social media to drive interest in the language of the producer. It is civic activism. It is particularly also important to examine what The underlying assumption of important to examine how young meaning KOLs give to their social this paper is that the future de- activists are framing and pre- media presence and the content velopment of Kazakhstan will de- senting their messages and ideas they have created. pend significantly on to what ex- to “win the hearts and minds” of tent the government is prepared their peers. Indeed, social media Kazakh Youth to adapt to changes in demo- provides a platform for diverse graphics, generational dynamics, cultural exchange; knowing the According to 2018 figures, citi- and societal values. It is also driv- latest trends, tastes, and mind- zens aged 14-29 comprise one- en by the author’s personal ex- sets of youth allows content-pro- fifth of Kazakhstan’s population perience of engaging with youth ducers to get their attention. (21.5 percent or 3.9 million peo- as an institutional researcher at ple). While 43 percent of youth the private Narxoz University, Before proceeding to the selected live in rural areas, there is contin- where as many as 8,000 millen- cases, it would be useful to pro- uous migration to cities, stimu- nials and post-millennials study. vide (1) a general youth portrait lated by the desire to find a decent My interaction with representa- and (2) a detailed analysis of job and take advantage of urban tives of these two generations has post-millennials. As they move leisure and consumption infra- intensified since joining the on- toward adulthood, their attitudes, structure. According to the pri- line media outlet Steppe, which behaviors, and lifestyles have the vate Brif Research Agency, young has thousands of readers across ability to shape or influence offi- people have several major traits. Kazakhstan. As an editor, I have cial rhetoric and government pol- First, they are conformist in the had the privilege of speaking with icies in key areas. The authorities sense that family and marriage many young Instagram celebri- already monitor social media on are the two most important goals ties, entrepreneurs, artists, and a daily basis to understand pop- in their lives. Only 10-15 percent scholars, and have noticed that ular sentiment and prevent mass of youth prioritize career, travel, social media is providing millen- demonstrations; millennials and and self-improvement over fami- nials and post-millennials with post-millennials, as the most ly. Interestingly, as a study by the an alternative public space to active social media users, will Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic gain recognition from their peers therefore come to be on the radar Studies revealed, helping other and voice their concerns about of government agencies and will people, being an influential man key social and political issues. push the latter to formulate re- or woman, having a good reputa- sponses to their concerns and ex- tion, and being independent are The main argument of this paper pectations. In light of this, I will not priorities for youth. They put is that millennials and post-mil- also describe (3) the social media material comfort above love and

CAP Fellows Paper 217 2 possession of knowledge. No- in a foreign country, find a job, are much happier and more op- tably, too, only 12 percent of re- or get education at a foreign uni- timistic than adults, they are also spondents described faith as an versity. Official figures show that concerned with rising food pric- “absolute value.” 120,000 Kazakh students are es, university fees, expensive rent studying abroad, the vast major- prices, and low salaries. These is- Consequently, young boys and ity of whom are enrolled in Rus- sues might push young men and girls generally consider work a sian and Chinese universities. women in big cities, particularly means to earn money. They care Such socio-economic problems as in the capital, Astana, to partic- deeply about work insofar as it is the low quality of local education, ipate in mass protests once they a means of ensuring their com- expensive housing, and unem- become adults and have more fort and welfare, but they do not ployment push youth to migrate responsibilities. Nevertheless, believe it to have any inherent and seek better opportunities. the nationwide results of a Pub- value. Although young people lic Opinion Institute and Fried- want to earn good money, there- These problems, according to the rich Ebert Stiftung survey shows fore, they have no desire to work director of the Youth Informa- that so far young Kazakh citizens hard. Polls also show that most tion Service of Kazakhstan, Irina are not interested in taking part of them see university educa- Mednikova, translate into a lack in civic initiatives or engaging in tion as a waste of time, nothing of motivation, political passivi- politics. more than a ritual necessary to ty, and paternalism. Millennials get a diploma. However, parents and post-millennials can hardly Values of Post-Millennials and adolescents tend to lack an name any official and civic ini- awareness that graduation from tiatives that target youth. Even According to a survey conducted university is not a guarantee of a if they have learned about key by a team of researchers (includ- job and that there are few oppor- government strategies, such as ing myself) among post-millen- tunities in the “prestigious pro- “Kazakhstan-2030,” in school nials in five major cities in Ka- fessions” students often choose or university, they do not con- zakhstan, the three things teens to study at university. Hence, 41 sider politicians “role models.” value most are health, family, and percent of Kazakhstan’s young High-ranking officials, in partic- freedom. Of course, all of them citizens wish to leave the country ular, are widely perceived to be want to avoid being sick, but the to acquire permanent residency corrupt. Although young people huge and growing popularity of social media apps—particularly Figure 1. The most important values for teens Instagram, Dubsmash, and Mu- sically—has motivated many of them to care about how they look in the mirror and what they eat. Thanks to high oil prices in the 2000s, practicing a “healthy life- style” (zdorovyi obraz zhizhni, or ZOZh) became trendy among the upper and middle classes: people were able to afford higher-quali- ty food, sport activities, and even vacations in Turkey or Egypt. Al- though the fat years came to an abrupt end with the 2008 eco- nomic crisis and the decline in the oil price, which hit economic growth in Kazakhstan hard, the Source: Author’s survey culture of ZOZh has certainly af- fected the younger generation, as

CAP Fellows Paper 217 3 it made their parents much more for the one-third of Kazakh chil- concerned about what their chil- Since parents want their chil- dren who are being raised by a dren had on their plates and what dren to be successful, to thrive divorced single parent. they did after school. financially, and to care for them when they get old, young peo- Accordingly, family is the second Even if Kazakhstan is the largest ple feel constant pressure to get most important thing to teenag- consumer of alcohol in Central good marks in school, pass uni- ers after health. The two are, in Asia, teens drink less than mem- versity entrance exams, and find fact, related: young people are bers of the older generation, who a decent job after graduation. aware of the precarious condi- lived through mass unemploy- Like “helicopter parents” in the tions in which their families live ment and limited leisure after US, parents in Kazakhstan are and the tough competition in the the fall of the Soviet Union. The over-focused on their children: labor market, and know that they proliferation and popularity of though they may want children to must be physically and mentally gyms and fitness centers across take responsibility for their own strong to live up to their parents’ major cities stimulates people to actions and decisions, elders seek expectations. They also feel how have an attractive physical ap- to control and direct young peo- weak they are without the mor- pearance. Universities likewise ple’s lives as much as possible. al and financial support of their encourage people to look cool parents, particularly during the and stylish. Young boys and girls Two local drivers of such behavior university years. Exposed to con- use being healthy, fit, and sexy as need to be specifically mentioned. sumerist culture via the internet a way to get respect and recogni- First, having been traumatized and media, young urbanites re- tion from their peers—or, to put themselves by the harsh realities alize that their parents are their it in Bourdieusian terms, to gain of the 1990s, the older genera- main sponsors, since the vast and increase their symbolic cap- tion simply does not want their majority of teenagers do not work ital. children to find themselves in to get pocket money. Neverthe- similar conditions and therefore less, as Figure 1 shows, concerns Another—and much darker—rea- overprotects them. Second, the about financial stability are sig- son for the younger generation Kazakh tradition of helping rela- nificant. That is why teens value to prioritize their health is that tives during bad economic times self-confidence and ascribe huge Kazakh society has become ex- as a survival strategy is still being importance to employment. With cessively atomized, with fami- practiced, leading to expectations social mobility in steep decline, lies caring only about their own that young people will likewise teenagers realize that the sup- security and well-being. Severe care about their elders in the fu- port of their parents is critical to economic problems have affected ture. The stakes are even higher tackling the harsh realities of the household incomes, aggravated unemployment, and forced the Figure 2. Whom do teenagers trust most? government to cut back its social provisions. Citizens expect less and less from the government in terms of improving their living standards. They view each new government initiative with sus- picion, thinking that these proj- ects are created and launched only to steal money from taxpay- ers. Raised in this circumspect atmosphere, teens understand that if they do not care for their health now, they will not be able to achieve anything in the future. Source: Author’s survey

CAP Fellows Paper 217 4 Figure 3. What defines success?

Source: Author’s survey adult world. pressure on students and expect therefore obliged to compete with them to get high scores. While their peers to secure a scholar- The other side of the coin is that families want their children to get ship and decrease the burden on three-quarters of the new gener- government scholarships, prin- their families. ation most trusts their parents cipals and teachers are primarily and family members. Meanwhile, concerned with the school’s rank- Symptomatically, young Kazakh 14 percent do not trust anyone, 7 ing. The pressure is so strong and citizens are embracing individu- percent most trust their friends, expectations so high that some alism. Almost one-third assume and just 2 percent of respondents boys and girls have committed that their personality is what sets count on spiritual leaders. Their suicide after failing to receive them apart from their agemates. views may evolve in the future, high scores. Sixty-one percent think that be- but facts on the ground show that ing a high-quality professional Kazakh youth consider family the For many teenagers, passing uni- will make them successful in life. one and only source of authority. versity exams becomes the ulti- Forty-five percent believe in the This reflects the broader societal mate goal, forcing them to spend benefits of hard work and 43 per- trend of a loss of confidence in all their time on test preparation. cent acknowledge the importance national-level institutions. Although young people are very of having or establishing good critical about the quality of higher connections with other people. In a context where teens are so- education in Kazakhstan, they al- One-tenth of young people think cializing less and less with their most universally agree that a uni- that working at a highly-paid job peers offline, the very concept of versity diploma is a prerequisite would mean they were successful, friendship needs to be re-evaluat- to getting a job. To the majority while only 7 percent of teens con- ed. Interactions with classmates of our respondents (73 percent), sider an advantageous marriage a and neighbors are less binding having a degree is an extremely means of achieving success. and “self-sacrificing” than in the important asset to building a ca- past: they may go out together, reer. That being said, only 27.8 These findings clearly illustrate but just to relax and take their percent think that their parents that adolescents raised in a peri- minds off test preparation for a could afford to contribute to this od of slow economic growth are while. Adolescents in 9th-11th education. In a context of rising quite realistic about their capabil- grade spend most of their af- tuition fees and falling incomes, ities. That is why they acknowl- ter-school time on national uni- most elders cannot send their edge the importance of being versity entrance tests. Parents children to prestigious and ex- an in-demand professional who and school managers exert strong pensive universities. Teens are can withstand any difficulties

CAP Fellows Paper 217 5 as an adult in an individualistic, famous on Instagram, decid- non-meritocratic society. Kazakh millennials and post-mil- ed to launch their own YouTube lennials spend a great deal of channel in 2015. They now have Accordingly, almost half of them time online. In this, they are not over 635,000 subscribers and believe that good connections entirely different from older gen- their small video sketches, social (khoroshie sviazi) matter. Ac- erations: all in all, 70 percent of videos, and pranks have been customed to paying bribes or us- the population is now using var- watched 141 million times. The ing connections to get imported ious social media platforms to “Khakha Show,” established in goods and receive state services chat, share opinions, post photos, 2015, is another popular channel, quicker than others during the or watch videos. The difference is with videos produced exclusively Soviet era, the older generations which social media these differ- for a Kazakh-speaking audience. continue to rely on the assistance ent generations use: young peo- of their relatives, close friends, ple aged 18-29 are much more ac- In 2018, it became possible to and acquaintances when seeking tive on vKontakte and Instagram, observe a certain institutionaliza- a job, organizing expensive cele- while their elders prefer MoiMir, tion of social media production brations, and enrolling their kids Odnoklassniki, and Facebook. with the establishment of the “Sa- in kindergarten or school. Adoles- lem Social Media” (SSM) agency, cents are aware of the importance While many state-owned and pri- headed by Aleksandr Aksyutits, of having influential elders: many vate TV channels have turned to former Press Secretary of Nur of them have heard rumors about YouTube and other social media Otan, the presidential party. Sa- professors and university staff platforms to reach alternative lem provides financial, logistical, taking bribes from students in ex- audiences, it is telling that the and technical support to young change for high marks. Moreover, private “Gakku” Kazakh music talents producing a wide range teens have grown accustomed to channel is the most popular You- of video content. The agency has stories about elders helping their Tube account in the country, with co-opted several successful proj- own children to get positions in 1.4 million subscribers and 892 ects and attracted very popular local government entities. This million views. The second most Instagram and YouTube celebri- reality has also led young people popular channel on YouTube is ties to various shows, events, and to mistrust various institutions in “Channel 7,” known for a variety video products. It now controls Kazakhstan. of sitcoms produced in the Kazakh 8 major YouTube accounts with language. Young Russian-speak- a total of 740,000 subscribers. ing video-makers known as the These channels include “Nor- Youth and Social Media “Yuframe,” who first became mal’no obshchaites” [Talk No

Figure 4. What teens think their lives are lacking

Source: Author’s survey CAP Fellows Paper 217 6 Bullshit], “Shou Iriny Kairatovny” dia platforms in the evenings was form to respond to ordinary cit- [The Irina Kairatovna Show], and occasioned by Ablyazov’s daily izens’ questions and polemicize “Shtat Nebraska” [The State of YouTube videos and Telegram with famous bloggers and entre- Nebraska], all of which were very posts. preneurs. These appointments popular before the establishment might simply be part of Akorda’s of SSM. In addition, over 200 While security agencies are close- outreach in advance of the next short videos produced by SSM ly tracking those who support presidential election, but the de- are published and promoted each Ablyazov, the appointment of cision to make 2019 “the Year of month via 9 Instagram accounts younger bureaucrats to several Youth” implies that there is more with a total of 1.3 million follow- key bodies responsible for en- to it than that, a more thoughtful ers. gagement with civil society and strategy of reconciling the youth official propaganda implies that with the political authorities. Consequently, young citizens play Akorda—the Kazakh presiden- a major role in the development tial administration—cares deeply Young Activists on Social of Kazakhstan’s social media and about Ablyazov’s campaigns and Media their saturation with content in the youth’s estrangement from the Russian and Kazakh languag- politicians. In this section, I look at young es. In the absence of a strong activists that use different so- meritocracy in many government Criticized for its lack of engage- cial media platforms to practice agencies and employment prob- ment with ordinary citizens, Nur civic activism and increase their lems facing youth in the private Otan is now striving to rebrand followers’ awareness of many sector, social media provides itself and become attractive to political issues in Kazakhstan. one of the few social mobility young citizens. Part of this effort Although these content creators opportunities available to young is the appointment as first dep- and influencers are millennials, people. Given that these creative uty of 48-year-old former MP a substantial share of their sub- men and women became popular Maulen Ashimbayev, a graduate scribers are post-millennials. for their entertaining videos, one of Tufts University’s Fletcher might assume that young follow- School. Former Kazakhstan Insti- Za Nami Uzhe Vyekhali. Two ers are not interested in consum- tute for Strategic Studies director former journalists, Dmitry Dubo- ing political content, but they are Erlan Karin’s (age 43) appoint- vitsky (age 29) and Dmitry Khegai in fact not apathetic about what is ment to head the biggest govern- (age 30), decided to launch this going on in Kazakhstan. ment channel, “Kazakhstan,” and YouTube channel in August 2017. his active recruitment of creative Although the first six months The huge amount of funny vid- millennials to various projects, as were in beta testing mode, their eos circulating on Instagram and well as the introduction of new vlogs on contemporary political YouTube may marginalize pro- TV programs, confirms the au- issues have started to attract the ducers of political content, par- thorities’ conscious desire to at- attention of adult viewers, turn- ticularly content created or spon- tract young people’s attention to ing these ex-journalists into one sored by opposition figures such the state-controlled media. After of the most popular content-cre- as Mukhtar Ablyazov. Following former mayor of Astana Asset ators in the Kazakhstani blogo- France’s decision not to extra- Issekeshev (age 48) became Head sphere. Today, they have more dite the ex-banker to Kazakhstan, of the Akorda Presidential Office, than 104,000 subscribers, the Ablyazov launched a massive popular Facebook blogger Zhana vast majority of whom are 18 or YouTube campaign against the Ilyicheva was invited to a press older. With their videos having Kazakh government and urged conference given by Nazarbayev. been viewed more than 16 million citizens of the country to unite The Minister of Information and times, the channel is now able to and protest. Many political ana- Communication, Dauren Abayev monetize its popularity by adver- lysts argue that the government’s (age 39), is himself a very active tising various new applications, 2018 decision to block social me- Facebook user, using the plat- news outlets, betting firms, etc.

CAP Fellows Paper 217 7 need to hire too many journalists selves as political activists, the The main mission of the channel or pay for the creation and main- founders of the channel embrace is to pose the hard questions that tenance of a website or publishing civic activism. They want ordi- media outlets do not dare ask of house to print your newspapers: nary citizens to understand that politicians, corporate players, “If the video you created is inter- each political development, from and celebrities due to (self-)cen- esting, then YouTube will suggest an increase in gasoline prices to sorship. The authors argue that it to other users. You don’t need the ratification of the Caspian Sea YouTube allows for independent to pay for an advertisement.” This agreement, directly affects their editorial policy and provides a fo- means that with little money you lives. In this respect, the project rum to talk about things that or- can become a visible and popular is driven by a desire to foster indi- dinary citizens care deeply about. content-creator within the local viduals’ involvement and interest The topics of the most popular YouTube sphere. in political issues. However, they videos are the possibility of early do not agitate people to go into presidential elections, the bank- Rapid feedback from viewers is the streets and organize mass ruptcy of local banks, the illegal crucial, as it helps content-mak- demonstrations. The founders behavior of rich kids, the resig- ers adapt their work to make the affirm that they are not going to nation of Nazarbayev’s closest af- audience feel that their sugges- join any oppositional forces and filiates, the tragic killing of figure tions and opinions matter. This do not see any of them as con- skater Denis Ten, security sector in turn helps build a strong bond structive movements. reforms, the scenario of Russian between producers and consum- secession, etc. By talking about ers, which is necessary to in- “Jurttyn Balasy.” Murat Dani- these critical issues, they hope to crease the number of subscribers yar, a 22-year-old Russian-speak- awaken civic consciousness. and amount of payments from fu- ing blogger from Almaty, upload- ture clients. Although the project ed his first video to YouTube in Dmitry Dubovitsky, the co-found- is currently far from bringing in September 2017. Since then, he er of the channel, thinks that You- substantial revenue, making vid- has produced 37 videos, prompt- Tube allows content-creators to eos and talking explicitly about ing 20,925 users to subscribe reach far more people than do TV sensitive issues brings the cre- to his channel, “Jurttyn Balasy” channels, newspapers, and other ators a sense of self-fulfillment. (Other People’s Child). Eighty online media resources. Accord- percent of subscribers are men ing to him, there is no longer any While declining to frame them- aged 18-34, mostly from Almaty. Murat does everything alone: he Figure 5. The cover of “Za Nami Uzhe Vyekhali” Channel writes scenarios, films footage, and edits.

Murat prioritizes YouTube over other platforms because Insta- gram is full of “Viners,” people who produce short, fun videos and do not push people to think about social problems. Accord- ing to him, if one can generate interesting content on YouTube, one easily increases one’s num- ber of followers. Murat describes Kazakhstan’s blogging sphere as sterile and argues that many pub- Source: “Za nami uzhe vyekhali” YouTube channel, lic figures, particularly famous https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIlLaUQtcaab- Viners, are deliberately stay- bw9-uQysRjw. ing silent on social and political

CAP Fellows Paper 217 8 problems. He urges these celeb- Figure 6. Murat Daniyar in one of his blogs on YouTube rities to publicly voice political opinions, since millions of young citizens are paying close attention to what they do. He says that it is not a crime to be civically en- gaged and explicitly opine about the wrongdoings of national or local governing bodies.

In his 5-10-minute-long blogs Murat talks about controversial issues and critically examines many sins of contemporary Ka- zakh society. The problems of ur- ban transportation in Almaty are what first provoked him to go to YouTube. To his surprise, his first Source: “JURTTYŃ BALASY” YouTube channel, https://www. video received positive feedback youtube.com/channel/UClmqO1ELiMtzP2YGXhWE_lw. from many viewers. Commen- tators encouraged him to con- The blogger blames city admin- eo games, and read books. Murat tinue making blogs and agreed, istrations for this and treats the believes that the new generation if necessary, to donate money to Kok Zhailau case as evidence of a will make Kazakhstan a better support him in doing this. Sub- confrontation between civil soci- place and must show that the sequent videos were dedicated ety and the authorities. He thinks youth is ready for change. to the hottest issues, including officials should stop treating citi- Le Shapalaque Comics. the renaming of one of the cen- zens as mindless “sheeple,” since Launched in March 2017 by sev- tral streets of Almaty to Nazarba- times have changed and the Sovi- eral enthusiasts from Astana yev Avenue, the latinization of et Union no longer exists. in their early twenties, Le Sha- the Kazakh alphabet, and public palaque produces comics and hearings on the construction of a Accordingly, the main goal of satirical illustrations. Its popular new ski resort in the Kok Zhailau “Jurttyn balasy” is to raise aware- topics include corruption, power valley. The young YouTuber heav- ness among young citizens and relations between the younger ily criticizes key opinion leaders, increase their interest in poli- generation and their elders in the claiming that they engage in “po- tics. Although Murat hesitates to family and work, the differences litical prostitution.” He assumes call himself a political blogger, between the former capital (Al- that those public figures who he acknowledges that with each maty) and the current one (Asta- supported the construction of the passing day the number of videos na), traditions, popular culture, ski resort are corrupt and wicked. on his channel about political is- and everyday practices of ordi- Murat laments that Kazakh soci- sues increases. He therefore ad- nary citizens. ety is not shaming these individ- mits that what he does is directly uals, whom he claims are rotten related to politics and political With 20,700 followers on Insta- at the core. activism. He argues that young gram, the Le Shapalaque team ar- people, tired of moral admoni- gues that social media helps them Murat is also critical of some tion and the criticism of their communicate directly with read- Soviet-style practices that per- elders, would rather listen to an ers and reach them faster than sist in today’s Kazakhstan. Many agemate than to an adult male. classical media outlets, includ- university students are, for in- Consequently, he positions him- ing newspapers and television. stance, forced to attend official self as an ordinary guy who loves It is less visible on other social political celebrations as “extras.” to hang out with friends, play vid- media, with only 1,486 followers

CAP Fellows Paper 217 9 on VKontakte, and even fewer party, Nur Otan, hinting that op- Kazakhstan, the team members on Facebook and Telegram. Half portunities are scarce for young consult with lawyers before pub- of consumers of Le Shapalaque creative people like them. They lishing some of their works on so- comics are aged 18-24; they are have never participated in any cial media. university students or recent political campaigns and contend graduates from Almaty, Astana, that politics needs to be fixed. #SaveKokZhailau. Environ- Shymkent and Karaganda. Just mental issues are becoming a over half are women. According The authorities turn a blind eye crucial element of youth mobi- to the creators of the comics, this to many socio-economic and po- lization. The new generation of particular audience prefers Insta- litical problems. Le Shapalaque activists and influencers is, for gram because it is old enough to comics try to create a bond with instance, calling on social media have left vKontakte, but still too ordinary citizens by demonstrat- users to sign a petition against young to be active on Facebook. ing that someone else does care the construction of a ski resort about these issues. According to in the mountainous Kok Zhai- While regarding themselves as Le Shapalaque founder Adil Zak- lau area of Almaty that has been artists, the goal of the creators of enov, humor is often the only tool lobbied for by local authorities. Le Shapalaque is to push people that can help people tackle the While activists of different ages to think critically. For them, it is world’s toughest challenges. One and backgrounds are united a political project, but they are of their comics, for instance, de- against this expensive initiative, hesitant to consider it a form of scribes the career ladder of state the engagement of the #Save- political activism. When asked employees: first give bribes to ac- KokZhailau team could be seen about means of engaging in pol- cess power, then take bribes once as a turning point. Their publica- itics, they somewhat sarcastically in power (see Figure 7). Aware of tions on Instagram helped to col- responded that one needs to be the legal risks in a country like lect over 33,000 signatures after a member of the ruling political the online petition was launched at the beginning of November Figure 7. The career ladder of a state em- 2018. Although the final decision ployee: give bribes, take bribes has not yet been made, local au- thorities have been forced to use different tactics to accommodate these protests. In early Decem- ber, Almaty mayor Baurzhan Baybek said that the authorities had taken into consideration all critical remarks and suggestions coming from civil society and had decided to make certain changes, such as decreasing the area of de- forestation.

Responding to some of the skep- tics, art-activist Suinbike Su- leimenova (age 25) argues that the Instagram hype around Kok Zhailau is “returning voices, rights, and freedom to the peo- ple,” as many citizens are fed up Source: La Shapalaque Comics [@shapalaque] Ins- with being silent. Instagram is a tagram profile, https://www.instagram.com/sha- “virtual square” that allows peo- palaque/. ple to gather, rise up, and talk

CAP Fellows Paper 217 10 Figure 8. Instagram influencer She does not want to be afraid of yeva (96,600 subscribers) has Madina Mussina sharing her point of view, since at least once urged her follow- she is “not agitating for violence, ers to assert themselves and de- drug abuse and murder, but for fend Kok Zhailau against “rich preserving nature.” What she men who do not care about the cares about is protecting the envi- people.” To complement this ronment and preventing the im- Instagram activism, young art- plementation of the “crazy ideas ists Anvar Musrepov and Nazira of fat men with a lot of money.” Karimova staged a performance While the influencer acknowledg- near the Embassy of Kazakhstan es that her interest in this topic in Vienna at the beginning of emerged only recently, similar- November 2018. They protested ly to blogger Murat Daniyar, she against the ski resort by organiz- criticizes celebrities and so-called ing a “luminiscent picket.” On his “opinion leaders” for abstaining Instagram account, Musrepov Source: Madina Mussina [@devoch- from sharing their own views on explained that the government of kakolbasa] Instagram profile, https:// Kok Zhailau. She thinks that if Kazakhstan has never considered www.instagram.com/devochkakolba- someone has many followers and the opinion of ordinary citizens sa/. is respected by the people, he or and only cares about its interna- she should talk about social is- tional image. They thus decided about important things. sues. Mussina argues that there to attract the attention of an in- is no need to organize or attend ternational audience to trigger Madina Mussina, an Instagram street protests, since social media an official response from Astana. influencer, invites her 72,100 fol- can help pressure the authorities Even if this picket went largely lowers to share posts about “Save with no more than a click. unnoticed, it is an example of the Kok Zhailau.” She thinks that in kind of tactics employed by young order to achieve their ultimate Following Madina Mussina, Kazakh activists. In November goal, activists need to boost the 30-year-old actress and Insta- 2018, a group of Kazakh students hype. After her first several pub- gram influencer Aisulu Azimba- gathered in Times Square to lications on this topic, students Figure 9. An art performance by Anvar Musrepov began to send her private mes- and Nazira Karimova sages saying that university or college authorities were telling them to put their signatures on blank sheets of paper or on doc- uments to support the construc- tion of the ski resort. According to Mussina, times have changed: applying Soviet-era style meth- ods of scaremongering and treat- ing people as a “herd of sheep” no longer works. In the era of digital technology, social media, and a diversity of information sources, there is a need for an open and sincere dialogue between society and rulers.

Mussina calls herself a citizen Source: Anvar Musrepov [@anvarmusrepov] Instagram pro- with soul, feeling, and opinion. file, https://www.instagram.com/anvarmusrepov/. CAP Fellows Paper 217 11 raise global awareness about Kok sence, an unconscious political Chast’ vtoraia: mobil’nye telefony,” Zhailau and show solidarity with attitude that limits the impact of Central Asian Analytical Network, their fellows in Kazakhstan. To state propaganda. On the eve of March 28, 2018, http://caa-net- work.org/archives/12707. be heard and to avoid being sen- a presidential transition, Akorda 7 tenced for protesting by Kazakh- authorities are faced with the se- “Nazarbayev poluchil pravo pozhiznenno vozglavliat’ Sovbez stan’s law enforcement agencies, rious challenge of finding a com- Kazakhstana,” Zakon, July 12, 2018, young activists choose foreign cit- mon language with the country’s https://www.zakon.kz/4927697- ies, such as Vienna or New York, youth, which seems to be slowly nazarbaev-smozhet-pozhiznenno. for their street actions. entering a new era of at least par- html. tial civic activism. 8 Youth Scientific Research Center, Conclusion “The Youth of Kazakhstan 2018 Na- tional Report,” December 21, 2018, Even as the Kazakh authorities http://eljastary.kz/articles/62/2. Notes 9 are refashioning the content of Khadisha Akayeva and Irina Med- state-owned TV channels, us- 1 Here I employ Pew Research Cen- nikova, “Apatichnaia i ishushaia mo- tivatsiiu—molodezh’ postsovetskogo ing social media, and appointing ter’s generation scheme. Whereas millennials were born between 1981 prostranstva,” Zhas Camp, Novem- younger bureaucrats to the min- ber 8, 2018, https://zhascamp.kz/ istries and agencies that curate and 1996, post-millennials are the generation born after 1996 until news/02028d66-1eb8-4fdb-ac33- so-called “ideological work,” mil- 2012. See Michael Dimock, “Defin- b377b58980d6/. 10 lennials’ and post-millennials’ ing Generations: Where Millennials Gul’nara Bazhkenova, “Kazah- lack of trust in official institutions End and Generation Z Begins,” Pew stanskie ‘Semidesiatniki’ v Poli- persists. The political indiffer- Research Center, January 17, 2019, tike”, Radio Azattyq, August 13, ence of young citizens is driven by http://www.pewresearch.org/fact- 2015, https://rus.azattyq.org/a/ fear of organizing and attending tank/2019/01/17/where-millenni- semidesyatniki-blog-bazhkeno- als-end-and-generation-z-begins/. voy/27186368.html. mass demonstrations, as well as 11 2 Olga Kudryashova, “Novyi zakon Neil Buckley, “Once-Repressive by a lack of faith that the govern- Uzbekistan Begins a Post-Karimov ment will listen to their claims. o SMI: kak guliat’ po Lezviiu nozha i ne poranit’sia,” Kursiv, January Opening,” , Febru- 11, 2018, https://kursiv.kz/news/ ary 13, 2018, https://www.ft.com/ Nevertheless, the growing pop- obschestvo/2018-01/novyy-zakon- content/6c37419c-0cbf-11e8-8eb7- ularity of the content created by o-smi-kak-gulyat-po-lezviyu-nozha- 42f857ea9f09. 12 young bloggers, satirists, and in- i-ne-poranitsya. https://the-steppe.com/ 13 fluencers implies that coverage 3 Amina Malakshinova, “Mazhilis Youth Scientific Research Center, of political and socio-economic v pervom chtenii odobril zapret “The Youth of Kazakhstan 2017 Na- issues is beginning to sell. Social religioznykh obriadov vne mecheti i tional Report,” May 10, 2017, http:// tserkvi,” Informburo, May 16, 2018, eljastary.kz/articles/14/2. media platforms act as safe spac- 14 https://informburo.kz/novosti/ Ibid. es with less censorship and gov- 15 minreligiy-vystupilo-za-zapret-re- Pyotr Val’ter and Dmitriy Kaza- ernment control, giving young kov, “5 interesnykh faktov o kazah- activists a unique opportunity to ligioznyh-obryadov-vne-meche- ti-i-cerkvi.html. stanskoi molodezhi,” Kapital, March share their political views and in- 4 Asylkhan Mamashuly, “Pochemu 3, 2018, https://kapital.kz/gosu- teract with their audiences with- v Kazahstane slozhno poluchit’ raz- darstvo/67369/5-interesnyh-fak- out any mediators. The topics reshenie na miting,” Radio Azattyq, tov-o-kazahstanskoj-molodezhi. they cover, ranging from urban October 1, 2018, https://rus.azattyq. html. 16 transportation to corruption and org/a/kazakhstan-otkaz-provede- Roman Ivanov, “Mnogodetnye environment, show that creators nie-mitinga/29518448.html. sem’i vozvraschaiutsia v modu,” and audience alike are concerned 5 “Tsifrovaia Tsentral’naia Aziia. Info 365, October 29, 2018, https://365info.kz/2018/10/ with national and city-level prob- Chast’ pervaia: dostup k internetu,” Central Asian Analytical Network, mnogodetnye-semi-vozvrash- lems. Even if the Kazakhstani hayutsya-v-modu-sredi-molode- youth is largely apolitical, their June 3, 2018, http://caa-network. org/archives/13349. zhi-issledovanie/. very ignorance and lack of re- 17 6 “Tsifrovaya Tsentral’naya Aziya. Marat Shibutov, “Ekonomich- spect for the authorities is, in es- eskoe budushchee Kazakhstana

CAP Fellows Paper 217 12 pod ugrozoi: trudovye perspektivy 28 Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Kazakhstan’s Youth Policy—Maulen molodezhi,” Regnum, April 9, 2018, Haidt, The Coddling of the Ameri- Ashimbayev,” Inform.kz, January https://regnum.ru/news/2401645. can Mind: How Good Intentions 23, 2019, https://www.inform.kz/ html. and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a en/zhas-otan-must-be-core-of-ka- 18 Val’ter and Kazakov, “5 interes- Generation for Failure (London: zakhstan-s-youth-policy-maulen- nykh faktov.” Penguin, 2018). ashimbayev_a3491041. 19 Ilya Astakhov, “Skol’ko kazah- 29 Madiya Torebayeva, “Po- 41 Personal written interview with stanskikh studentov uchitsia za drostkovyi suitsid: pugaiush- Dmitry Dubovitsky, November 25, granitsei,” Today.kz, March 5, chaia statisika Kazahstana,” 2018. 2018, http://today.kz/news/ka- DW, July 3, 2015, https://www. 42 His channel is available at https:// zahstan/2018-05-03/765342-skol- dw.com/ru/подростковый- www.youtube.com/channel/ ko-kazahstanskih-studen- суицид-пугающая-статистика- UClmqO1ELiMtzP2YGXhWE_lw. tov-uchitsya-za-granitsej/. казахстана/a-18559354. 43 Kristina Nikulina, “Vainer— 20 Youth Scientific Research Center, 30 Sholpan Zhabayeva, “Itogi oprosa: kleimo ili blagoslovenie? Skol’ko “The Youth of Kazakhstan 2017.” socsetiami pol’zuiutsia 70% kazakh- zarabatyvaiut na Instagram v Kazah- 21 Akayeva and Mednikova, stantsev,” Informburo, April 21, stane,” The Steppe, August 15, 2016, “Apatichnaia i ishushaia motivatsi- 2017, https://informburo.kz/no- https://the-steppe.com/news/busi- iu.” vosti/itogi-oprosa-socsetyami-pol- ness/2016-08-15/vaynery. 22 Ibid. zuyutsya-70-kazahstancev.html. 44 Personal written interview with 23 Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, “Molo- 31 Ibid. Murat Daniyar, November 24, 2018. dezh Tsentral’noi Azii. Kazahstan,” 32 Gakku TV, https://www.youtube. 45 Ibid. 2016, http://www.fes-centralasia. com/user/gakkutv. 46 Le Shapalaque is a Francization of org/ru/statja/v-svet-vyshel-per- 33 The Seven Channel, https://www. the Kazakh “Шапалақ” (slap). evod-publikacii-molodezh-cent- youtube.com/user/TheSevenChan- 47 Personal written interview with ralnoj-azii-kazaxstan.html. nel. Adil Zakenov, November 25, 2018. 24 In 2017, the research team—con- 34 Yuframe, https://www.youtube. 48 Ibid. sisting of higher education manager com/results?search_query=yufra- 49 Mariya Dubovaya and Zhadra Arailym Ashirbekova, marketeer me. Zhulmuhametova, “Baybek o Kok Vitaly Lee, sociologist Aiman Zhus- 35 Xaxa Show, https://www.youtube. Zhailau: nam piatatiutsia naviazy- supova, and myself—conducted a com/channel/UCSNIekaSWal-aI- vat’ zabluzhdenie, chto kurort—eto survey among 1,500 schoolchildren 89je8SKQw. vredno,” Informburo, December 7, in 9th-11th grades from Atyrau, 36 “Aleksandr Aksyutits naznachen 2018, https://informburo.kz/novo- Pavlodar, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, and press-sekretarem—rukovodi- sti/baybek-o-kok-zhaylyau-nam-py- Semey. telem press-sluzhby partii ‘Nur tayutsya-navyazyvat-zabluzhde- 25 The World Bank, “Total Alcohol Otan,’” Kazinform, May 17, 2016, nie-chto-kurort-eto-vredno.html. Consumption Per Capita (Liters of https://www.inform.kz/ru/alek- 50 Oksana Tarnetskaya, “Haip ili Pure Alcohol, Projected Estimates, sandr-aksyutic-naznachen-press-se- sovremennoe vyrazhenie grazh- 15+ Years of Age),” 2016, https:// kretarem-rukovoditelem-press-sluz- danskoi Positsii,” Living Asia, No- data.worldbank.org/indicator/ hby-partii-nur-otan_a2904476. vember 13, 2018, http://livingasia. SH.ALC.PCAP.LI?end=2016&loca- 37 Alexandr Axyutic, “Salem Social online/2018/11/13/haip-ili-sovre- tions=KZ-KG-TJ-UZ&start=2016&- Media: Fabric ekskliuzivnogo kon- mennoe-vyrazhenie-grazh- view=chart. tenta,” https://www.slideshare.net/ danskoi-pozicii/. 26 A. Nashkenova, D. Zhama- KazakhstanPressClub/salem-media. 51 Madina Mussina [@devochkakol- liyeva, and A. Zholaushibekova, 38 See his YouTube channel, https:// basa], “Sokhranim Kok Zhailau,” “Rasprostranennost’ alkogo- www.youtube.com/channel/ Instagram, November 8, 2018, lizma v Kazakhstane,” 2015, UCf0jMvh9QJZrR3sKkyHDjNQ. https://www.instagram.com/p/ https://kaznmu.kz/press/ 39 Kazakh users’ access to Facebook, Bp53yFWnUHA/. wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ YouTube, and Telegram 52 Ibid. РАСПРОСТРАНЁННОСТЬ- is hindered after 8 pm each day. 53 Aisulu Azimbayeva [@strangeice], АЛКОГОЛИЗМА-В- See Almaz Kumenova, “Kazahstan “Sokhranim Kok Zhailau,” Insta- КАЗАХСТАНЕ-.pdf. blokiruet internet, kogda Ablyazov gram, November 8, 2018, https:// 27 Askar Mashayev, “Ia veru v vykhodit v onlain,” EurasiaNet, July www.instagram.com/p/Bp5By89lD- fitness,” Expert Kazahstan, July 4, 2018, https://russian.eurasianet. me/. 4, 2017, http://expertonline.kz/ org/node/65305. a14976/. 40 “Zhas Otan Must Be Core of

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