Topic: 2025 – Authoritarianism and Democracy
Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate Name: Katherine Petersburg
Country: Kazakhstan
Delegate: Katherine Petersburg
School: Williamson High School
Committee: SPECPOL
Topic: Authoritarianism and Democracy
The topic of authoritarianism and democracy is on a steep increase as of late, with an increase in the number of autocracies emerging. Currently, around 71% of the world’s population lives in autocracies, or about 5.7 billion people. The total number of people not having democratic rights is also increasing due to the fact that authoritarian regimes are becoming more dominant. The world’s population is growing faster than democracy can. People have also been increasingly interested in having a strong ruler and have become more accustomed to the idea. Autocrats are increasingly using more stable ways to take control, such as rigging elections, weakening checks on the executive government, and underfunding civil societies, rather than taking control through force, which makes them experience no massive backlash.
Kazakhstan is a constitutional republic with a strong presidency and believes in a strong central government; however, it has undertaken significant political modernization, including limiting presidential powers, strengthening parliament, and increasing public participation. Former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had been in office since Kazakhstan became independent, recently retired to his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who won the presidential election in June 2019 with 71% of the vote. Kazakhstan has believed in change and a government for the people from the beginning. Stability and gradual reform are essential in a government, and human rights and democratic principles remain universal even within one country. Kazakhstan believes strongly in using dialogue over force.
Kazakhstan believes in government accountability, improving the electoral process, and bolstering human rights protections, all while supporting a solid central government for the people. Tokayev has recently removed Nazarbayev from the constitution, saying the constitutional changes would shift Kazakhstan from a “super-presidential form of government to a presidential republic with a strong parliament.” Kazakhstan believes in change and that it is a good thing. Some actions Kazakhstan would like to see in the future are enhancing transparency and accountability, turning towards democracy, preventing polarization and political violence, and encouraging balanced international cooperation. Kazakhstan would like to work with Russia, China, and the United States.
Works Cited
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-15483497
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48158#_Toc174701071
