Bytursinov state-run university of Kostanay
MULTIPLICITY
OF PARTIES IN KAZAKHSTAN
The establishment and development of Kazakhstan's political system are
closely connected with the development of the party and electoral system. The
modern party-formation process from the very beginning has been accompanied by
the transformation of the political system of Kazakhstan, where political
parties had to determine its place in the political process. The process of
party-formation took place in a hole of frequent change of political ideology,
lack of social basis and political programs’ indetermination of most of the
parties. The reason for it is not only a low -quality development of political
parties, but also the slow rate of increase of the whole party system.
The formation of a multiplicity of parties in Kazakhstan has the common
laws with similar processes in other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
countries.
Almost everywhere not only just a transition from one-party system to a
multiplicity of parties took place, but undoubtedly there was interconnected
process of removal of state-political monopoly of the Communist Party of the
Soviet Union (CPSU) and formation of a new nationality and party system, which
can correspond to this nationality.
At the same time, it is absolutely clear, that the development of a
multi-party system in Kazakhstan has its own peculiarities, which are
determined by the specific character of historical, demographic, political
orientation, ethnic and cultural originality.
One of the periods in the democratization of the party system can be
defined as a struggle for the cancellation of Article 6 of the Soviet Union’s
Constitution. The function of this article was to recognize officially the
leading role of the CPSU in the state.
Multi-party system on the territory of CIS is legally put in force by
the Law of the Soviet Union from March 14, 1990 "About approval of the
President of the USSR and the amendments and additions to the Constitution of
the USSR". This Law adopted the new revision of the article in the
Constitution of the USSR, which admits the existence of other political parties
besides CPSU. Indeed, the alternative political parties received the right to
existence only 1 January 1991, when the Law of USSR "About Public
Associations" came into force.
However, the multi-party system was actually false, because none of the
recently formed political parties could not enter into real competition with
the CPSU, and, consequently, actually participate in the political life of the
country.
The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nazarbaev announces, that
"the main crucial event, that gave the stimulus for the formation of
multi-party system, is the collapse of the USSR and its backbone in the form of
the Communist Party" [1.P.65]. The essential propositions of the
development of parties and public organizations in Kazakhstan are determined by
the Constitution of Kazakhstan from August 30, 1995. In particular, paragraph 1
of Article 5 states: "In the Republic of Kazakhstan the ideological and
political diversity is recognized. The merging of public and state institutions
and the formation of organizations and political parties in government bodies
are forbidden" [2].
The Constitution of Kazakhstan from January 28, 1993 had a determinate
influence upon the development of the party system. It has contributed to the
formation of a new round of party’s origin in republic. The development of a
multi-party system in this period was within the framework of state’s
sovereignty and independence. This process was unusual for the country. The
amplification of liberal- democratic reforms assisted state-party and political
institutions in their mutual collaboration. This was necessary for Independent
Kazakhstan to become firmly established in the global community. The consensus’
potential of this Great Law of the country, concerning the position of the
Russian language, citizenship, the presence of "Kazakh statehood"
concept, checks and balances among the branches of government was inadequate,
and already in 1994, certain provisions of the Constitution have been subjected
to criticism. This fact complicated the political situation in the country.
But this specific case became the trigger of appearance of new political
parties and communities. The main reason of their appearance during this period
of time was personal views. It means, that in the public eye a political union
is defined by the personality of its leader, unlike many other states, where
the personality of politician is often determined by the party-membership. This
is one of the specific features of Kazakhstan’s party-system origin. During
that past election campaigns in great legislative body we knew its another
peculiarity, when the electorate express its preferences according to
difference of running politician and the party, he represents, and then
according to program’s purposes of this party. It is well known, that in
western countries, this process takes place in the reverse direction: from the
consciousness of their political needs to a particular political party, which
is able to implement them, and then to its candidates.
During this period, in 1995, the political parties as well as the whole
society, supported the initiative of the Assembly of Peoples of Kazakhstan
about extension of the authorization of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nazarbaev and the adoption of the new country’s Constitution, demonstrating
solidarity in support of a strategic sector of Kazakhstan’s development as a
society, legal, democratic and social state. Constitutional consolidation of
free communities in 1995, ban on the limitation of rights and freedoms for
political reasons, providing of equal legal opportunities to voluntary
associations ensured true political and ideological pluralism, true multi-party
system.
The role of political parties in the development of statehood was
different. The causes of this phenomenon lie in the fact, that in today's
transformed Kazakhstan the level of democracy is still low, but the political
socialization includes on the one hand nonrecurring and parallel learning
processes of democratic political culture and loss of valuation, judgments,
political orientations and values inherent
in a totalitarian system. Such change of processes of political socialization
in the country is complicated not only by the social class contradictions, but
also by the national contradictions in aggregate with the transformation of the
political system on background of deep systemic crisis. This unique combination
of factors has seriously changed man's relationship with the state and its
institutions, has implanted its own character on the advancement of society
towards political pluralism.
Modern period of time is characterized by mono-party system of great
legislative body. This phenomenon is viewed as a denial of the principles of
democracy. This situation with only one existed party makes conceptual and
ideological depression, which has a negative impact on society and the state
mechanism. Consequently the authority loses legitimacy both within the country
and abroad. It is necessary to create conditions for the full development and
performance of the other parties in the country. It is necessary to improve the
internal activity of political parties, because the lack of experience of
internal debate and of ideas’ competition makes political parties to be alike.
Election law was changed eight times, practical experience has shown that the
last variant is not perfect. Nevertheless, the Constitution of the country
really creates conditions for the democratic development of the country.
Table
of authorities:
1.
Nazarbaev N.A. On the threshold of the XXI century. Almaty: Oner, 1996. - P.65
2.
Constitution of RK from August 30, 1995. The new version of the October 7, 1998
P1, Article 5