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DECENTRALIZATION IN KAZAKHSTAN AS THE FACTOR OF REGIONAL GROWTH EFFECTIVENESS

DOSMAGAMBETOVA, G.

Abstract

Within the framework of the pivotal reforms of administrative governance the process of decentralization has acquired a new momentum in Kazakhstan under the challenges of the new century. It is linked to the fact that decentralization leads to optimization of public functions and facilitates a more rational model of inter-budget relations that ensure the sustainable operation on all levels of state institutions. We should admit that in Kazakhstan movement towards decentralization goes by leaps and bounds. The objective necessity of deep analysis of the processes currently taking place in the Kazakhstan public administration system is determined, in the first place, by consideration of possible implications. The significance of this issue rises from the key provisions of “The Strategy “Kazakhstan -2050” The new political course of the newly established state” which underline the need to thoroughly realize the policy of decentralization of the state governance. Along with this, it emphasizes that “the essence of the idea of decentralization lays in providing rights and required resources in order to shift the responsibility of decision-making from the center to regional authority bodies”. Besides the major goal - to attract the population to solving issues around public governance - decentralization pursues as well the goal of increasing the living standards and enhancing potential development of some components of public community systems, particularly, on the scale of regions. We need to note that in the period of purposeful work by the Kazakhstan government on development of the territory, residents of peripheral regions distanced from the capital obtain tangible results from such a work. Current economic successes of Kazakhstan induce the importance of decentralization. This process is carried out together with other transformations, such as social, institutional, political, public ones. However, M.Kenzheguzin, a Kazakhstan expert, warns that “decentralization of the state governance is a complex and therefore lengthy and permanent process the deadlines of which cannot be clearly defined and arranged ”. It is obvious that the modern world cannot produce one single model of state power decentralization as well as single forms and methods of its realization. The system of political decisions can be considered decentralized if a local unit “can impose its taxes and provide a set of services in accordance with preferences of its residents”. At the moment, Kazakhstan has not reached this stage yet, however a number of measures done in this direction are worth mentioning. For instance, “The Concept of Local Self-Governance Development in Kazakhstan” was adopted in 2012 which will contribute to strengthening local public administration and streamlining administrative reforms in the regions. 89 SGEM 2014 International Multidisciplinary Scientific Conferences on Social Sciences and Arts Another major political event concerning the issue under consideration was the election of 92 per cents of regional Akims which took place in 2013.

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