In the Shadow of Communism: Political Responsiveness in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan

• In Event: Authoritarian Governance in the Post-Soviet Space: Responsiveness, Control, and Institutional Legacies

Abstract

This project explores political responsiveness in non-democratic settings, particularly in post-Soviet Kazakhstan. Building on existing literature on responsiveness in democratic contexts, we hypothesize that in authoritarian regimes, constituencies may struggle to distinguish between different levels of governance and between programmatic and clientelistic/personalistic requests. To test this, we will conduct a vignette experiment in Kazakhstan, where respondents will be asked to identify the appropriate level of governance to address different issues—ranging from a state-imposed ban to a local shortage of essential medicine. This design will allow us to assess how well citizens differentiate between problems with personal relevance and broader political issues, as well as their understanding of governance structures in authoritarian settings.

Authors

• Dima Kortukov, U of Alabama

• Raushan Zhandayeva, George Washington U