Political Effects of International Education Initiatives: The Case of Kazakhstan

• In Event: Politics and activism in higher education in Eurasia

Proposal

Introduction and Background
In recent decades, many governments have embraced the internationalization of higher education initiatives, sending their students to Western universities on fully funded scholarships and establishing world-class educational institutions at home with Western-educated faculty and English as the language of instruction (Eggeling, 2020; Koch, 2014). While the economic and academic motivations behind such initiatives are well-documented (Jonbekova et al., 2023; Kuzhabekova et al., 2022; Del Sordi, 2018), their political implications remain poorly understood. It is often assumed that students and graduates from Western countries would bring democratic political values with them, and those studying in Westernized environments at home would adopt liberal political attitudes from their professors and peers (Li, 2006).
Kazakhstan is an interesting case of a former Soviet Union republic with a developing economy and transitioning from a highly authoritarian to a democratic regime. The country aims to achieve internationalization of higher education as part of its efforts to establish a knowledge-based economy and compete globally. Notable initiatives include the Bolashak scholarship program, which has benefitted over 14,000 Kazakhstani citizens (Kuzhabekova & Amankulova, 2023), and Nazarbayev University, which has produced over 8,000 graduates (“You Will Make It out There,” 2023). As these individuals are expected to assume influential roles in society, their education could potentially impact the stability of the regime (Gift & Krcmaric, 2017). However, the existing literature on the political implications of such internationalization programs is scarce and has certain limitations.

Research Gap and Objectives
To our knowledge, no comprehensive studies have compared students and graduates of internationalization programs with their domestically educated counterparts regarding their political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Existing research on the effects of education in authoritarian regimes, such as Chinese graduates returning from abroad, offers some insights (Astarita & Patience, 2020; Li, 2006), but there is a dearth of such research in post-Soviet Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan, where a significant number of citizens have participated in internationalization initiatives (Nessipbayeva, 2015) during a critical period of regime transition.
Furthermore, most studies have not examined political information consumption patterns among internationalized students and graduates in restricted media environments. Regimes in transition, like Kazakhstan, tightly control traditional media, leaving social media as the primary platform for accessing critical information. Recent research suggests that high internet penetration and widespread use of social media positively impact young citizens' political engagement (author, 2018; Kudaibergenova & Laruelle, 2022; Sairambay, 2022). Understanding the political media consumption patterns of internationalized students and graduates is crucial, given their future roles as decision-makers in society.
In order to better understand the effects of international education in in-transition regimes, we are conducting survey research to compare internationalized students and graduates in Kazakhstan and their peers regarding a range of political effects, such as attitudes toward the media, political trust, political participation, and protest behavior. The second purpose of the study was to explore how internationalized students and graduates navigate the media environment and how that shapes their political attitudes and behavior.
Research Design and Methodology
We are conducting quantitative survey research to comprehensively compare internationalized students and graduates in Kazakhstan with their domestically and traditionally educated peers across various political attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. The survey encompasses domains such as attitudes toward the regime, political trust, political participation, protest behavior, attitudes toward media, and youth characteristics, following a well-established instrument (Author, 2018). This approach will help us determine the extent of any differences between the groups and gain insights into the political effects of international education initiatives in a regime transitioning from authoritarianism.
Data Collection and Analysis
For data collection, we are utilizing a convenience snowball sampling, acknowledging the challenges of reaching all Kazakhstani youth aged 18 to 45 years old. The Qualtrics online survey platform has been selected for its time and cost efficiency, providing respondents the flexibility to answer at their preferred time and location while ensuring confidentiality.
Expected Contributions
While our research is ongoing, we anticipate several significant contributions to the existing literature. Firstly, our study will shed light on the political implications of education internationalization in transitioning regimes, enhancing our understanding of regime transitions and authoritarian resilience. Secondly, by conducting a comprehensive survey-based comparison between internationalized students and their traditionally educated counterparts, we will fill a critical gap in the research on the political effects of international education initiatives. Lastly, our examination of political information consumption patterns among internationalized students and graduates in restricted media environments will provide valuable insights into the political engagement of this important demographic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our research project explores the political effects of international education initiatives in Kazakhstan, an in-transition regime with a significant number of participants in such programs. By adopting a comprehensive survey-based approach, we aim to contribute to the literature on regime transitions, authoritarian resilience, and political information consumption among young citizens. We are excited about the opportunity to share our findings and engage in fruitful discussions at the conference.

Authors

• Dinara Ibrayeva, Florida Sate University

• Ainur Jumagaliyeva, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

• Aidana Sirgebayeva, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign