Kazakhstan still lives in Soviet era despite all efforts of modernization

Former Soviet Kazakhstan still lives under corruption now disguised in a democratic and globalized outlook. Despite the growing effects of globalization following the country's independence 13 years ago, almost everything here seems to be from another world.

Nothing in Kazakhstan is familiar to a visitor from the west or let us say a visitor from outside the ex-communist block.

People's clothes, cars, architecture and public facilities were all made in Russia or another former communist country.

The most popular cars are Lada and Volga. The airplanes in service are all Russian-made including Antonov, Tupolev and Yakovlev.

Buildings, especially public ones, are of soviet architecture that were constructed-to-impress by reflecting the regime's greatness through large scale planning and numerous windows.

Except for the army trucks that are similar to those of the Syrian army (for those living in Lebanon and Syria who have seen them), other facilities such as traffic lights, public transportation and airports look unusual for foreigners.

All western technologies are avavailable but with Russian instruction handbooks. The country is still home of the main station for the Russian Space Program: Baikonoor.

It is clear that a country with all kinds of technologies had its glorious days, but now everything seems to have vanished. Everything is old and needs maintenance and renovation both in the countryside and in main cities namely Uralsk, Atyrau, Aktobe and Kyzlorda.

Roads are in bad shape also. Electricity, water and even heating are sometimes rationed even during a -20° degrees winter.

Only a few privileged of the nation's citizens mostly living in the capital enjoy a small number of fancy restaurants, European cars and fashion stores.

One might be surprised to learn that the rulers of the country are still the same elite that once ruled Kazakhistan during the Soviet era.

Kazakhi President Adir Nazarbayev was the former secretary-general of the Communist Party in Kazakhstan.

The current regime retained its same old governing style as it imprisoned main opposition leaders under charges of corruption.

Meanwhile, posters of Nazarbayev with children wearing traditional costumes could be seen anywhere in the country.

On the eve of transformation from communism to capitalism, the regime promised development and prosperity by 2030.

Since the president has become in his sixties, many expected his eldest daughter, Dariga, to take over his position by the time of prosperity in 2030.

Dariga's succession of her father was not only due to the fact the Nazarbayevs had no male children, but also because women play an important role in the Kazakhi society.

In fact, Kazakhs are originally descendants of Mongol tribes of hunters and warriors. The men used to be hunters or warmongers while women took care of the rest.

Being of Asian stock, Kazakhs look like Asians. Those constitute some 70 percent of the population and are mainly Muslims. Next come the Russian minority composing some 25 percent of the population.

The rest are minorities such as Turks and even Germans. Despite Kazakh being the official language, Russian is widely making it as a semi-official language.

The currency is the Tenge. Banknotes have pictures of Al-Farabi, the famous medieval Muslim scientist and philosopher who is said to be born in neighboring Uzbekistan. Banknotes also have pictures of Kublai Khan, the Chinese emperor who received the Italian discovery diva Marco Polo.

The country's capital was Almaty until 1999 when it moved to Astana. But Almaty is still the economic capital being the center of most companies' headquarters and the attracting pole for people from the countryside looking for jobs.

Economically speaking, the backbone of the country's revenues is the oil and gas sectors. Run mainly by foreign corporations, the secotr is booming and is currently undergoing major changes.

Big money is being invested in the sector in order to increase production in one of the world's most important under-developed reserves.

Russian and American companies are both racing for oil concessions in the country, making it hard for the government to keep the political equilibrium between the two powers.

Some political analyst even say that the US invasion of Afghanistan was partly motivated by the need of having US troops close to Central-Asian oil reserves of which Kazakhstan had the biggest share.

This shows the greatness of the stakes the country is facing and the delicate politics it has to maintain.

Despite this oil-rush, the people are still doubtful that it would benefit them since corruption is very widespread.

According to Serguey, a Russian working for a local trading company, "it will all go to the pockets of government officials, never to the state treasury."

Some Kazakhs even regretted the old Soviet days. Khairullayev, a Kazakh retired industry worker now running a grocery shop told Alternative that at least their salaries were enough (during the soviet era), "but today both my pension and my work revenue can barely make me survive".

The young generation seems nevertheless to be more optimistic. Ruslan, a waiter and economics students in Almaty, argued that there are more opportunities now. "You can find a decent job, buy a car and a house in a few years. You can even go on holidays to places like Turkey or Europe while in the past you could only visit Czechoslovakia or Bulgaria," he said.