The book by Kuat Akizhanov “Political Economy of Kazakhstan: from Neoliberal Dogma to Social Catastrophe” offers a deep analysis of the thirty-year neoliberal economic model in Kazakhstan, which led the country to socio-economic inequality and de facto recolonization through "shock therapy", privatization and uncontrolled foreign investment legitimized by the dominant neoclassical economic theory. Within the framework of political economy approaches, Akizhanov examines the mechanisms of enrichment of the elites, the inefficiency of the management of the national fund, criticizes the budget deficit and the "independence" of the central bank, calls for a paradigm shift through reindustrialization, the introduction of basic income and analyzes international experience (China, South Korea, Argentina, Chile, the United States, etc.) to build a more equitable and welfare-oriented model of the development for Kazakhstan. 

Time: 15.00 - 16.30
Venue:  OSCE Academy in Bishkek, 1A, Botanichesky pereulok, Library, 1st floor, room №5
Author: Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, Visiting Lecturer, OSCE Academy in Bishkek, CAREC Institute (PRC)
Discussant: Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev, Deputy Director, OSCE Academy in Bishkek.
Registration link:  https://forms.gle/mnBcPZbq47dLNcdK6
Language: English and Russian

Agenda
15:00 – 15:05 Words of Welcome Dr. Pal Dunay, Director, OSCE Academy in Bishkek
15:05 – 15:40 Book Presentation
Political Economy of Kazakhstan: From Neoliberal Dogma to Social Catastrophe. Includes a Dictionary of Neoliberal Euphemisms and Postmodern Concepts by Dr. Kuat Akizhanov
15:40 – 16:00 Discussion Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev
16:00 – 16:25 Q&A Session
16:25 – 16:30 Closing Remarks

Author

Dr. Kuat Akizhanov is Deputy Director Two of the CAREC Institute in Urumqi, PRC and a visiting lecturer at the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He is the International Special Advisor of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development and the Research Director of the Spik Think-Tank. Prior to joining the Institute, he was head of Economic Research Department at the Institute of Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan and also served as a Director of the Institute of Applied Research of Academy of Public Administration. Dr. Akizhanov has experience in public service and has held various positions at the ministries of justice, finance and labour and social protection, the Kazakh President’s Administration and as a head of a state insurance company.
Dr. Akizhanov holds PhD in Political Economy from the University of Bath, an MA in Public Policy from the Manchester University (UK) and an LL.M from the University of Virginia School of Law (USA). Dr. Akizhanov has served as an associate professor at the Higher School of Economics of KazGUU in Astana and the Institute for East European Studies of the Freie Universität Berlin. As a lecturer he also taught at the International Development Department of the University of Birmingham. His academic and research interests include socio-economic inequality, financialization and development economics. His research focuses on neoliberalism in the Eurasian region, developmentalism, financial crises and heterodox economics. He is the author of “Finance Capitalism and Income Inequality in the Contemporary Global Economy. A Comparative Study of the USA, South Korea, Argentina and Sweden” published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2023; and co-editor of “Heterodox Approaches to Development in Central Asia: Post-Soviet Development Economics and Society” (forthcoming).

Discussant

Dr. Shairbek Dzhuraev is the Deputy Director of the OSCE Academy in Bishkek. Dr. Dzhuraev holds a PhD in International Relations from the University of St. Andrews and recently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Technical University of Dortmund, funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. With more than 15 years of experience in research, teaching, and academic leadership, Dr. Dzhuraev is the founder of the Crossroads Central Asia research institute and an expert on Central Asian politics and international affairs. He has authored over 50 publications, including peer-reviewed articles and policy papers, and has held various academic leadership and teaching positions, notably serving as Dean of Academic Development at the American University of Central Asia.