Comments on: Centre-Periphery Relations in Kazakhstan and Managing the Oil-Boom http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/ neweurasia\'s Kazakhstan blog Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:17:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.3 By: Andrea http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-7076 Andrea Fri, 01 Dec 2006 09:05:41 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-7076 Hi Ben, I am also interested in this topic. I am interested in whether or not decentralization increases the probability that a government will "loose control" of expenditures during oil booms. Since Kazakhstan has been undergoing a process of decentralization while oil revenue has been on the rise, this case may help illustrate the dynamics between center and periphery. I would be very interested in what you find, as welll as any sources you come acroos. I have read the two that you cite...but please keep me posted. Hi Ben,
I am also interested in this topic. I am interested in whether or not decentralization increases the probability that a government will “loose control” of expenditures during oil booms. Since Kazakhstan has been undergoing a process of decentralization while oil revenue has been on the rise, this case may help illustrate the dynamics between center and periphery. I would be very interested in what you find, as welll as any sources you come acroos. I have read the two that you cite…but please keep me posted.

]]> By: KZBlog http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-7068 KZBlog Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:10:09 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-7068 I'm not a scholar in this area but I do note that for all you bring up (definitely buying Cummings), there is still a cult of the central gov't, officially or unofficially realized. So when the Central government devises a plan (Kazakhstan 2030 or the Industrial-Innovation Strategy for example) all regions are expected to write reports (passports) on how they will implement the plan. In fact these passports are all almost identical and reiterate what the central plan says. In practice what happens on the ground may be different but that seems to be more an example of loopholes, lack of monitoring, etc than a deliberate plan of decentralization. Now loopholes and lack of monitoring/enforcement are so widespread as to be a real force. But legislatively--while decentralization has occured--the regions report to the center, keep taxes only because the central government allows them to. In fact one proposal for the new SBKs (still under disucussion) would allow the central gov't to collect fines for environmental 'crimes' and distribute them to the SBKs. I’m not a scholar in this area but I do note that for all you bring up (definitely buying Cummings), there is still a cult of the central gov’t, officially or unofficially realized. So when the Central government devises a plan (Kazakhstan 2030 or the Industrial-Innovation Strategy for example) all regions are expected to write reports (passports) on how they will implement the plan. In fact these passports are all almost identical and reiterate what the central plan says. In practice what happens on the ground may be different but that seems to be more an example of loopholes, lack of monitoring, etc than a deliberate plan of decentralization. Now loopholes and lack of monitoring/enforcement are so widespread as to be a real force. But legislatively–while decentralization has occured–the regions report to the center, keep taxes only because the central government allows them to. In fact one proposal for the new SBKs (still under disucussion) would allow the central gov’t to collect fines for environmental ‘crimes’ and distribute them to the SBKs.

]]> By: Ben http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-6902 Ben Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:39:25 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-6902 Nathan, thanks for that. From what I've been reading the regional networks thesis makes more sense as well. A good part of Cummings 2000 is about that (I am sure you've checked her stuff out already). Her 2005 monograph "Kazakhstan: Power and the Elite" is a bit more in-depth. Other than that, I'm sure I'll come across more related readings and will certainly send them your way. Nathan,

thanks for that. From what I’ve been reading the regional networks thesis makes more sense as well. A good part of Cummings 2000 is about that (I am sure you’ve checked her stuff out already). Her 2005 monograph “Kazakhstan: Power and the Elite” is a bit more in-depth. Other than that, I’m sure I’ll come across more related readings and will certainly send them your way.

]]> By: Nathan http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-6750 Nathan Wed, 29 Nov 2006 03:34:24 +0000 http://kazakhstan.neweurasia.net/2006/11/29/centre-periphery-relations-in-kazakhstan-and-managing-the-oil-boom/#comment-6750 Hmmm... In some ways, that's related to what I'm doing. If you come across anything good that draws attention to clan competition or region-based networks (which I think are far more relevant to Kazakhstan than are clans) competing with the center, let me know. I'll do the same if I see anything you're looking for. Hmmm… In some ways, that’s related to what I’m doing. If you come across anything good that draws attention to clan competition or region-based networks (which I think are far more relevant to Kazakhstan than are clans) competing with the center, let me know. I’ll do the same if I see anything you’re looking for.

]]>