Kazakhstan has always been considered as a regional leader in public sector reform in Central Asia, with digitalisation playing a central role in the modernisation of governance. Under the Second President Tokayev’s leadership, initiatives such as the Listening State have aimed to enhance public service efficiency and strengthen citizen engagement through digital technologies. Yet the transition from Nazarbayev’s rule has also revealed persistent challenges, including dependence on foreign IT solutions, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and weak personal data protection. This chapter provides a comprehensive assessment of Kazakhstan’s efforts under new political leadership to build a “digital government”, identifying both significant opportunities and enduring constraints. It argues that, while notable progress has been achieved, digitalisation reforms under Tokayev have thus far fallen short of delivering the transformational change required for a true digital government. The chapter contributes to the literature by examining the obstacles to digitalisation in non-democratic countries within the post-Soviet context.

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Building a Digital Government in Kazakhstan: Opportunities and Challenges

  • Bakhytzhan Kurmanov,
  • Baurzhan Rakhmetov

摘要

Kazakhstan has always been considered as a regional leader in public sector reform in Central Asia, with digitalisation playing a central role in the modernisation of governance. Under the Second President Tokayev’s leadership, initiatives such as the Listening State have aimed to enhance public service efficiency and strengthen citizen engagement through digital technologies. Yet the transition from Nazarbayev’s rule has also revealed persistent challenges, including dependence on foreign IT solutions, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and weak personal data protection. This chapter provides a comprehensive assessment of Kazakhstan’s efforts under new political leadership to build a “digital government”, identifying both significant opportunities and enduring constraints. It argues that, while notable progress has been achieved, digitalisation reforms under Tokayev have thus far fallen short of delivering the transformational change required for a true digital government. The chapter contributes to the literature by examining the obstacles to digitalisation in non-democratic countries within the post-Soviet context.