Founded in September 2020, we are the only dedicated Political Economy Research Centre (PERC) in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. PERC operates within the Higher School of Economics of the M. Narikbayev KazGUU University with the aim of promoting scientific research in the field of political economy, economics, sociology and public policy, and contributing to progressive socio-economic development of Kazakhstan and the Eurasian region.
MISSION:
We recognise that politics and economics are inextricably linked and constitute unified dimension. To properly understand socio-economic and political processes and reality it is critical to explore economic context in which political institutions and actors operate. Similarly, valid and sound economic analysis requires investigating how resources are allocated and distributed and what historical context, political institutions and traditions that impact these allocation and distribution are. In the Eurasian region marked by common history, economic and political uncertainty, ecological insecurity and potential conflicts, the need for multifaceted approach to understanding the links between political and economic processes has never been greater.
PERC aims to formulate progressive policy and support for progressive movements by promoting critical political economy and through developing heterodox alternatives to economic orthodoxy. PERC stance is based on critical understanding of the contemporary capitalism, addressing the nature of neoliberal governance dominating in the countries of the Eurasian region and offering alternatives from within political economy. Our intellectual content and direction are guided by critical understanding of mainstream economics but as a pluralistic forum we welcome interdisciplinary and multidimensional approach to exploring social reality.
We are keen to constructively engage with academic and research institutions and governmental agencies on various theoretical, empirical and practical issues. We seek to advance the understanding of political economy and economics across a broad range of academic disciplines. We especially support research on and intellectual exploration about Kazakhstan, Eurasian region and former Soviet republics at many levels and seek to promote scientific and academic cooperation among scholars and organisations interested in the region. PERC is dedicated to the highest standards in research and teaching with the goal to promote general knowledge of and public interest in Kazakhstan and the Eurasian region.
Head: Kaut Akizhanov, PhD, Associate Professor, Higher School of Economics, KazGUU
PERC Projects:
Research Seminar Series with Guest Speakers
“Topics, views, approaches: new research agenda for Kazakhstan and the Eurasian region”
The Political Economy Research Centre (PERC) of the M. Narikbayev KazGUU University in collaboration with the Higher School of Economics is hosting monthly Research Seminars. The broad theme for this seminar series is “Topics, views, approaches: new research agenda for Kazakhstan and the Eurasian region”. This seminar aims to highlight the importance of developing new research agenda in social sciences for and by the research community both from the Eurasian region institutions and international ones. Both Kazakhstani and the post-Socialist Eurasian research community remain on the periphery of the global academic and educational debates. The new research agenda, therefore, which is still to be defined, will not only have to be informative but should have an emancipatory and transformative effects by providing a deeper and more critical understanding of the developments in Kazakhstan. Yet, after thirty years of independence Kazakhstani universities’ curricula docilely follow recommendations of the Western mainstream economics departments with no place for the history of economic thought, political economy and pluralist views in the text books of Kazakhstani students, let alone heterodox accounts. Time has come for new generation of intellectuals to offer new critical accounts on the developments in the country and the region. The seminar intends to bring together academics, teaching staff, postgraduate students and researchers to explore and discuss possible opportunities to develop such an agenda.
The Guest Speakers include academics from the internationally acclaimed universities and local scholars. Any potential presenter is welcome to contact PERC founder and coordinator Dr. Kuat Akizhanov, k_akizhanov@kazguu.kz; aakuat@mail.ru
Language: English.
Format: on-line and off-line seminar. We intend to use this seminar as an opportunity for the KazGUU University staff to interact with each other (under the safety guidelines of the Covid-19) and to build collaborative ties with the key speakers who will present via Zoom.
When: Every last Friday of a month
Серия научно-исследовательских работ на тему «Новый Политико-Экономический Курс для Казахстана»
Уважаемое экспертное сообщество, студенты, магистранты, докторанты,
Научно исследовательский центр политической экономии (PERC) инициировал новый научный проект под названием «Новый Политико-Экономический Курс для Казахстана. Целью проекта является подготовка серии рабочих статей и аналитических записок (policy and working papers), раскрывающих основные социально-экономические и политические проблемы Казахстана с разных углов зрения. Миссией данного проекта является разработка нового политико-экономического курса для страны и выработка альтернативных предложений по различным вопросам социально-экономического развития. Методологической основой исследования является макро-системный и исторический анализ с точки зрения критической политической экономии. Однако PERC, придерживаясь важности плюралистского похода к научным исследованиям, открыт для других возможных методологических подходов и конструктивной критике. В соответствии с миссией PERC, мы заинтересованы в привлечении к проекту научного и экспертного сообщества в лице частных, общественных и государственных организаций и к широкому обсуждению вопросов, затрагиваемых проектом.
Назрела острая необходимость осмысленного понимания произошедших в стране за последние тридцать лет изменений. Для выработки осмысленного понимания происходящих изменений и подготовки ответов на различные вызовы, необходимо привлечение всех прогрессивных сил страны и использования ее научного потенциала. На данном этапе идет подготовка аналитического исследования «Выпуск 1. Казахстан и итоги первых 30 лет».
Всех заинтересованные в данном научно-исследовательском проекте просим обращаться к руководителю PERC и координатору проекта Ассоциированному профессору Высшей Школы Экономики Акижанову Куату Балхашевичу, email: k_akizhanov@kazguu.kz; aakuat@mail.r
M. Narikbayev Kazguu university
