examining legal aspects of political protests and the development of state stability in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify the characteristics, causes, and development of political protests that took place in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The role of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation in resolving these protests is also examined. The use of a combination of systemic and neo-institutional methodological approaches made it possible to demonstrate that the absence of long-term reforms and transformational processes in the socio-economic and political spheres may lead to the destabilisation of society and the emergence of various elements of so-called “network revolutions” in one form or another. At the same time, an analysis of the causes of socio-political unrest, systemic reshuffles in the top echelons of power, and the investigation process concerning the organisers of the events allows the conclusion that the protests were not another network revolution, but rather reflected an intra-elite conflict and an attempted coup d’état. It was this intra-elite conflict that led to peaceful protests by citizens in the south-western regions of the country on social, labour, and socio-economic issues, which subsequently transformed into political protests and acquired an armed character, threatening the stability of society and the state political system. It is concluded that the state leadership adopted a constructive and flexible policy, using various domestic and interstate institutions to prevent a seizure of power. Among these, a significant role was played by the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, whose actions, while largely symbolic, contributed to stabilising the situation and strengthening state authority.