In January 2022, Kazakhstan faced the biggest protests the country has ever seen, resulting in mass casualties and spurring efforts for democratic reform. In this episode, we discuss the past civic conflicts in Kazakhstan and why the protests in 2022 became violent. How did President Tokayev and his government respond to these protests? How likely are his reforms going to significantly alter Kazakhstan’s political system and society? Here to answer these pressing questions is Mr. Bruce Pannier.
Bruce Pannier is a longtime journalist and correspondent covering Central Asia. Previously, he was a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty correspondent and has written for The Economist, Janes Intelligence, Oxford Analytica, and Freedom House.
Episode Credits:
Editor: Leo Kamer
Hosts: Lauren Zou, Julia An
Music: Zee Yuen
Hopkins Podcast on Foreign Affairs 