The British academic community believes Kazakhstan's new Constitution marks an important step in the development of the country's political system, although the key measure of its success will be the practical implementation of the reforms it enshrines. This opinion was shared with a Qazinform News Agency correspondent in London by Professor Rico Isaacs of the University of Lincoln and Associate Professor Alun Thomas of Staffordshire University.
Constitutional reform as part of long-term modernization Professor of International Politics at the University of Lincoln Rico Isaacs views the adoption of the new Constitution in Kazakhstan as an event of significant political importance. "Undoubtedly, the adoption of a new Constitution has important political significance.
Constitutions define the formal rules of the political system, so changes of this scale are indeed highly significant. They reflect the state's understanding of its own institutions and the nature of the relationship between the different branches of government," he said.
At the same time, the researcher notes that constitutional reform is only one element of a broader process of political modernization. In his view, the decisive factor will be the practical functioning of the new institutional mechanisms. "Ultimately, the success of these reforms will depend on whether they can strengthen state institutions in practice, improve government accountability and increase public trust in the political system.
It is the practical implementation of the reforms, rather than the text of the Constitution itself, that will determine their long-term significance," the professor noted. Developing this point, Rico Isaacs stressed that the reforms should be viewed not as a single turning point but as part of a consistent process of institutional development.
In his assessment, the changes enshrined in the Constitution reflect an intention to reconsider certain aspects of the relationship between the President, Parliament and other state institutions. The expert noted that the significance of the new constitutional powers will depend on how effectively Parliament, the judicial system and other state institutions are able to exercise the functions assigned to them.
In his opinion, this process will be closely watched both in Kazakhstan and abroad. Political culture, digitalization and regional cooperation Associate Professor of Eurasian Studies at Staffordshire University Alun Thomas believes the most significant consequences of the reform may be linked not only to major structural changes but also to deeper transformations in political and public culture.
"While the most substantial structural changes to Kazakhstan's Constitution are likely to attract the greatest attention, it is the more subtle changes in political and public culture embedded in the new Constitution that may have the most significant long-term impact," the expert said.
According to him, modern governance and public interaction are increasingly moving into the digital sphere. Kazakhstan, like many other countries, faces the need to develop modern mechanisms for regulating the digital space, reflecting not only its national development priorities but also broader global trends.