Fifteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Activism in authoritarian countries conjures images of crowded streets and clashes with police. However, as encroachments on civil liberties increase across the world, movement towards effective change can be made in quieter spaces through targeted initiatives. Issue focused activism is occurring in urban spaces in Kazakhstan responding to centralized urban development schemes and local issues such as residential displacement, historic preservation, transportation accessibility, and green space preservation. Successful civic activism in Kazakhstan’s cities sharply contrasts with the concurrent arrests and detainment of protestors in the streets. This study focuses on the mechanisms of change by asking: how do civic activists in Kazakhstan impact urban development processes and outcomes under authoritarianism? Political participation scholarship has deemed participation at the urban level inconsequential “low politics” with no expected impact on national political culture or policy. However the close connection between politics at the urban and national levels under a centralized system provides a unique and rapid feedback loop between these spheres. This study examines citizen impact in urban development through a multiple case study comparison of development projects in three cities in Kazakhstan: Almaty, Nur-Sultan, and Shymkent. Drawing from interviews, participant observation and archival review conducted over three years, this study examines urban development processes and outcomes to uncover the mechanisms enabling citizen’s impact on development. Preliminary results show that in the absence of civic and political freedoms, citizen are creating their own venues for participation, establishing themselves as legitimate participants in policy implementation processes and transforming state-society relations.