Social Media: Facebook as a Tool for Imitating Accountability and Transparency in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Kazakhstani Prime Minister Karim Massimov created in 2011 personal accounts on Twitter and Facebook. As a result, many Majilis deputies, ministries, and high-level public officials followed the trend. It was perceived by the public as a desire to be transparent and accountable to citizens. However, Kazakhstan is an authoritarian country where such kind openness contradicts its political culture. Therefore, it is interesting to find out why they are doing it. Do they really want to communicate with people and discuss with them acute issues and problems? The analysis of Kazakhstani political environment, official pages and accounts, and several interviews demonstrate some attempts to be accountable, but the structural reasons put significant obstacles in the way.