Institute for Philosophy, Political Science and Religion Studies

This research investigates the transformation of Kazakhstan's religious landscape following independence from the Soviet Union, with particular emphasis on state regulatory mechanisms governing Islamic practices. The study examines the historical trajectory of Islam in Kazakhstan from its eighth-century origins through the Soviet period to contemporary developments, addressing the balance between secular governance and religious freedom in a context of growing Islamic identification. The study adopts a longitudinal approach and employs a mixed-methods design combining quantitative archival analysis with qualitative field research. Primary data sources include population census records (1999, 2009, 2021), legislative documentation, and statistical data on religious institutions. These quantitative materials are supplemented by semi-structured interviews with Muslim community representatives. The analytical framework integrates demographic, institutional, and policy perspectives with community-based insights. Demographic analysis reveals significant shifts in religious identification patterns, with Muslims constituting approximately 70% of the national population by 2021. Institutional growth was marked by an increase from 2,685 Islamic organizations in 2020 to 2,832 in 2024. Educational analysis indicates that 12 of 14 existing spiritual educational establishments focus on Islamic studies. Content analysis of governmental and media sources confirms sustained institutional expansion and a pronounced orientation toward Islamic education. Legislative changes in response to security incidents in 2011 and 2016 introduced restrictions on freedom of conscience aimed at countering extremism and terrorism. The findings demonstrate that Kazakhstan has developed a distinctive model of state-religious relations integrating secular governance with recognition of Islam's historical and cultural significance. Despite suppression during the Soviet era, Islamic practices and institutions have undergone substantial revival under careful state regulation. The regulatory approach reflects a strategic balance between supporting traditional religious practices and safeguarding national security, offering a unique post-Soviet model of religious governance relevant for broader Central Asian comparative analysis.

The role of the church in economics remains conflictive. While the ecclesiastical body is convinced that it has the right to participate in economics, this position is viewed with disdain by politicians who think that the church should remain as a religious institution waiting to bandage the wounds of those injured and maimed by politicians, to support those sidelined to the peripheries of the economy, provide for families and individuals who are displaced and forgotten in the economic cycles and encourage those suffering from hopelessness and despair. Using Zimbabwe as a case study, this paper sought to answer questions such as, Is the church’s involvement in economics a right or a privilege? How is the church contributing to the national economy? What are the underpinnings that drive the authority of the church to participate in economics? The paper begins by outlining the methodology and econo-theological conceptual framework. A brief analysis of the Zimbabwean economy followed this discussion. The paper argued that the church's participation in economics is effectively a right and not a privilege. These conclusions were drawn from the foundations of the church as a historical, sociological, religious, and economic entity, driving its mandate from Jesus Christ. The paper makes a novel contribution to academia by positioning the church as a partner in economics, rather than as a mere spectator that participates at the mercy of political powers.

Investigate the significant development of halal industry and the urgent need for countries with Muslim minorities to adopt sharia accounting practices. The focus was on Thailand which was used as a representative of Muslim minority countries. Moreover, the method applied was a Systematic Literature Review using the PRISMA framework. This was achieved by retrieving and filtering different literature from Google Scholar based on certain inclusion or exclusion criteria followed by the conduct of a quality assurance test. The results showed that Thailand successfully dominated halal industry but Sharia accounting practices were rarely adopted. This gap has certain challenges and opportunities related to the integration of Sharia principles into halal industry. The observations were expected to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of halal industry in advancing the adoption of Sharia accounting in Muslim minority countries.

The article examines the economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia during the first decade of the Eurasian Economic Union's existence in its main spheres - mutual trade and investment. It analyses the state and trends in trade turnover, exports and imports, gross and net inflow of direct investment, as well as investment position. In addition, the situation change in the sphere of functioning of enterprises in Kazakhstan with the participation of the Russian capital is considered. All the considered parameters of bilateral cooperation are considered in comparison with more general indicators of Kazakhstan's foreign economic activity to improve the objectivity of assessments of the available progress and to identify leading or lagging areas of cooperation. Advanced dynamics characterize the revealed trends in the development of bilateral cooperation in most of the considered spheres, which allows us to conclude the positive impact of membership in the EAEU on the realization of the potential of economic cooperation between the two countries.

Background. In demographic processes, a significant place is occupied by such a type of immigration as the return of representatives of the indigenous population to the mother state. Many states, including Kazakhstan, adopt special programs aimed at adapting immigrants to the host society. However, the integration of kandas (fellow countrymen) into Kazakh society is not always painless for both the repatriates themselves and the local population.The aim of the study. To justify the need for a pragmatic approach to immigration in modern Kazakhstan, taking into account new risks and challenges.Materials and methods. The methodology for studying social phenomena and interactions in concept is based on classical approaches: the theory of structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, conflict theory, the theory of communicative action. To collect primary social information, qualitative and quantitative methods of sociology were used: statistical information analysis, focus groups, interviews, questionnaires.Results. The resettlement of ethnic Kazakhs from farand near-abroad countries and their settlement in Kazakhstan affect the change in the demographic structure of the regional population. On the one hand, mostly young people of active, working age arrive, who can contribute to the economic development of the country. On the other hand, not all immigrants have the working qualifications necessary for a particular region. The conditions of turbulent social processes and complicated geopolitical situation require a pragmatic approach to immigration, which takes into account education, profession and other characteristics of immigrants.Conclusion. Resettlement processes in manpower-surplus areas require special attention from the authorities. It is necessary to look at resettlement processes as a tool for solving socio-economic problems. First of all, these objectives include improving the well-being of the local population living in these regions and reducing risks and challenges for the state.

Abstract Gender equality and women’s rights are among the most discussed issues in the context of Islam. Any thorough analysis of the persistence of conservative patriarchal religious interpretations in Muslim communities should also consider social factors. The conservative appropriation of Islam is not only the result of theological factors but also a manifestation of a conservative and patriarchal habitus. This article draws attention to the vitality of empathy in establishing universal equal human dignity. It dwells on the idea of the universal innate nature of the child to offer some solutions to overcome the persistence of conservative religious interpretations and develop gender equality in the Muslim context. Also, the reformist views of the Jadids and Alash intellectuals, the Eurasian Muslim reformists of the early twentieth century, are analyzed as authentic historical and conceptual precedents to develop gender-egalitarian Islamic interpretations. Overall, this article establishes a connection between women’s rights in Islam, the universal innate nature of the child (and the universality of children’s right-friendly parenting and education that fosters empathy and critical thinking), and the intellectual legacy of the Jadids and Alash intellectuals, who wanted to transform the conservative and patriarchal habitus through educational reform, literary works, and a rationalistic, thematico-holistic approach to Islam.

The article is devoted to consideration of anthropological aspects of human sinfulness and ways of sin redemption, as well as the feasible spiritualization of the world, “together with man, groaning and suffering.” God created man in His image and likeness, but the image of God in man is distorted by sin, and the possibility of God-likeness is narrowed. Having distorted the image and almost lost the possibility of resembling God, man began to realize that he was the only creator of reality, including his own life, and “gained” what he had long sought - since the Renaissance. Sin has become the main reason for the anthropological transformation of man from the image of God to a man who is losing the remnants of spirituality and morality, despairing of the meaninglessness of his life and remaining in the tragic fragmentation of his existence. The sinful world created by sinful man is accepted by modern man as the only possible one, as an indisputable reality; a sinful man in an alien world - this is the life of modern man. Is a person capable of changing anything in the dominant atmosphere of universal sinfulness of the modern world, both on a personal and social level? God does not confront man with insoluble problems; God gives man both strength and ways to solve them, but man also needs to show effort. Participation in the sacraments; prayer to the Lord, Mother of God, saints; fulfillment of the commandments; remaining in the fear of God; repentance; love for neighbor; cultivating deep faith is a direct path to God, through which a person is saved and hopes for the acquisition of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Relevance. Public health effectiveness is crucial for population health, especially in the face of global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. The study applies the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to measure the efficiency of operating costs in the health care system across various regions of Kazakhstan from 2017 to 2021. Existing methods for assessing healthcare effectiveness often overlook the system's complexity, which turns DEA into a valuable tool to identify inequalities in healthcare availability and quality. Research objective. This study aims to employ the DEA model to measure the efficiency of operating costs in the health care system across regions of Kazakhstan in 2017-2021. Data and methods. The DEA model was chosen for its ability to analyze the efficiency of operating costs. Data were collected from the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Results. Our findings indicate the need for increased healthcare financing in specific regions, emphasizing the importance of transparent spending. The study concludes that the DEA model can regularly assess health financing, ensuring resources are directed where most needed. The novelty lies in establishing a link between financing and health outcomes. Conclusions. The study's results and methodology can be used by public health authorities in assessing operating costs' effectiveness, allocating resources judiciously, and making informed decisions to enhance the healthcare system.