Политология/10.Региональные политические процессы

Professor Kukeyeva F.T.,

MA degree student Abdukhalyk Zh.

Kazakh National University named after al-Farabi, Kazakhstan

Multiculturalism as a socio-cultural component of the sustainable development in Kazakhstan.

The world has changed dramatically and people started thinking broader and more rational about the current vulnerable issues in their home countries. They have started thinking “globally” about the environmental situation, economic and social problems of the society. Besides, the 21^st century achievements, new high technologies and “cultural bridges” between various nations provide for a unique opportunity to analyze the factors unfavorable to sustainable development and to identify the impediments to this process. It is a new phenomenon in the contemporary scientific cognition and it requires a deep knowledge of theory which addresses the very beginning of Sustainability.

Sustainable development (i.e. supported development) – is a development of a society in which the human conditions are being improved and the impact on the environment remains within the economic capacity of the biosphere, so it does not break the natural foundation of human life. Within sustainable development the needs should be provided without damage to the future generations. Under the UN definition, Sustainable development is the development of a society that caters to the needs of present generations without causing this damage to the opportunities to future generations for satisfaction of their own needs.

Sustainable development has become trendy in the region of Central Asia and as an academic discipline is relatively young both in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. There is a new tendency in Kazakhstan which must be emphasized: sustainable development is a vital and vulnerable issue on the national agenda of CA countries and Kazakhstani scholars are also engaged in this problem.

In 2007 Kazakhstan has adopted the Sustainable Development Concept for 2007-2024. But still there is a lack or very little amount of works on sustainable development in existing works of expert societies of Central Asia. Scientific approaches do not have synthesis and conceptualization, besides analysis of Sustainability issues is presented in fragmented way.

The famous slogan of the sustainable development is “think globally - act locally” calls for proper understanding the meaning and role of all state measures and policies pursuing at both a national and international levels within the world community. All actions, programs and projects realized in socio-economic, environmental, political and institutional levels should interact with each other as far as they are interrelated and interdependent. It is noteworthy that economic, social and environmental factors comprise the basis of a triune concept of sustainability, and one of the fundamental branches is a social branch.

Social component of sustainability is focused on human rights and aimed at preserving the stability of social and cultural systems, which includes the reducing of tensions and conflicts between people, maintaining a peaceful coexistence and tolerance between different nations. In order to achieve those sustainable development aims our modern society should establish a more efficient decision-making system taking into account a historical experience and encourage pluralism. As one of the alternatives in achieving a strong society of wellbeing within multiethnic communities, the social sphere will involve the principles of implementing a multiculturalism policy.

Multiculturalism is the cultural diversity of communities and the policies that promote this diversity. As a descriptive term, multiculturalism is the simple fact of cultural diversity and the demographic make-up of a specific place, sometimes at the organizational level, e.g., schools, businesses, neighborhoods, cities, or nations. As a prescriptive term, multiculturalism encourages ideologies and policies that promote this diversity or its institutionalization. In this sense, multiculturalism is a society “at ease with the rich tapestry of human life and the desire amongst people to express their own identity in the manner they see fit”.

Due to historical view of multiculturalism one can see that it has got its roots in Western Europe, and nowadays multiculturalism policy has failed in some European countries. But despite that fact, they are still being characterized by their unevenness and uncertain prospect of harmonious collaboration in future. It is worth mentioning that these countries also have been represented as having urgent problems because of a crisis of multiculturalism and still seeking their resolution and optimal realization of the multicultural policy.

Besides, European states attract by both a positive and negative experience in implementing the multiculturalism policy, a unique model of social communication and public relations. That is why “ups and downs” of the EU multicultural public policy are of great interest for Kazakhstan which has its peculiar socio-cultural identity. Deep scientific researches in the European model of multiethnic interaction will make possible to solve the issues of compatibility of the implementation of the multiculturalism principles in a Kazakhstani society. Thus, the definition of multicultural space, ways of intercultural dialogue and peaceful coexistence will improve the working out of the scenarios and prospects for future successful implementation of multiculturalism policy with a further projection on Kazakh society and to identify features of good policy implementation at the state level.

In case of Kazakhstan the social sphere attracts a set of state measures aimed at keeping tolerance and mutual understanding between the representatives of different ethnics. Kazakhstani society has chosen its way of tolerance in achieving a multicultural interaction, and multiculturalism policy will take a great importance and role in establishing a strong society with “a common aim, common interests, common future” under the Strategy – 2050 of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Republic of Kazakhstanis represented as an entire multi-ethnic state with different nationalities, preserving their linguistic, historical and cultural values. It has a population about 17,098,546 people (by October 1, 2013). In accordance with the census 2009, the indigenous population of Kazakhstan - Kazakhs constitute 63% of the population. Russians (25%), Ukrainians (2.9%), Uzbeks (2.8%), Germans (1.5%), Tatars (1.5%), Uyghurs (1.5%), as well as representatives of other nationalities. Kazakhstani principles of multi-confessional interrelations and tolerance are laid down in the fundamental state documents, in declarations of Kazakhstan People Assembly. It aims at building up a civil society as a multinational country and multiculturalism, as a main factor of the vigorous civil society, must be taken into deep consideration.

Many Kazakhstani scientific academics have made some attempts in identifying how in the emerging civil society like in Kazakhstan will be possible to maintain a cultural identity through the implementation and development of multicultural policy within non-title ethnic groups. They also try to show how the Kazakhstani multiculturalism and ethnic consolidation processes go on the both legal level and in a real life in terms of entire sustainable society. Related to this, Kazakhstani government is attracted by working out the national strategies and concepts, taking appropriate measures in all economic, political, social and cultural levels with a purpose of achieving a sustainable development and satisfying the needs of people as a multinational society.

Problems of multiculturalism and interethnic coexistence are represented as new phenomena and have not been explored in the Kazakh scientific community yet. And the problem of peaceful coexistence and cross-cultural relations of nations within a state do not lose their relevance because it is deeply connected with the social pillar of the sustainable development concept and can influence all spheres of the state policymaking.

References:

1. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future. Date of review 20.04.2014//http://www.un-documents.net/wced-ocf.htm

2. DAC & CITIES. Brundtland report: our common future. Date of review 15.03.2014 // http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities/historic-milestones/1987--brundtland-report-our-common-future/

3. Kevin Bloor. The Definitive Guide to Political Ideologies. NY.: AuthorHouse, 2010.- 272 p.