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Accepted Paper:
Exploring the State and Society Relationship: From Unpowered to Empowered Citizens (The Case of the Multi-ethnic Countryside in Northern Kazakhstan)
Diana Mombayeva
The relationship between the state and citizens is complex and is often seen as unequal, especially in the case of authoritarian regimes. While definitive, the discussions of authoritarianism tend to simplify the state and society relationship since they often neglect the neoliberal nature of contemporary states. In this paper, I discuss the state and society by focusing on the multi-ethnic countryside in northern Kazakhstan where citizens are expected to tackle local issues without the state's assistance, relying only on their individual resources. I argue that this situation has led to the creation of “autonomous citizens.” The concept of “autonomous citizen” unbars the socially and politically invisible layer of communication between the state and its citizens, showing that at the regional level, there is a "power twist" whereas the state, being unable to address social and economic issues, integrates citizens in decision-making, sharing its authority in managing society. This twist empowers local citizens, providing them opportunities to have a direct influence on the community’s life. Through discussion of local practices, I ask whether the authoritarian regime is possible, at least in rural areas, under the conditions imposed by the neoliberal policies and expectations.