Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials On The Unrest In Kazakhstan -- January 9, 2022

Peter Leonard, The Guardian: Inequality is driving protest against Kazakhstan’s authoritarian government

Almaty, the commercial capital of Kazakhstan, is the kind of mirage that oil-rich nations so often produce. It has all the trappings of comfort and consumer excess: swanky shopping malls, luxury car dealerships, high-end hotels.

This is the image of prosperity that the country’s rulers enjoy projecting to the world. For decades, Kazakhs have been encouraged to take out expensive loans to experience their share in the dream: to buy flats, cars and even holidays they can barely afford.

Beyond the limits of Almaty and the capital city, Nur-Sultan, however, the illusion begins to look threadbare. And the causes behind the protests currently gripping the central Asian nation come into focus. Average monthly salaries are less than £450 ($600). Police, doctors, teachers and all kinds of government workers supplement their meagre pay with bribes.

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WNU Editor: If I was living in Kazakhstan and earning only a few dollars a day, I would be joining the protests after reading stories like this one .... Kazakh despot's daughter, 41, splashed £220m fortune on £18m luxury jet and £8.75m mansion in London spending spree (Daily Mail).

style="font-size: large;">Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 9, 2022

The Kazakhstan protests escalated quickly. Here’s why -- Pauline Jones, Regina Smyth, Washington Post

High Gas Prices Are Fueling Massive Protests In Kazakhstan -- Steve DaSilva, Jalopnik

Anger, injustice and politics brought people to the streets in Kazakhstan -- Paolo Sorbello, Open Democracy

What’s Really Behind the Unrest in Kazakhstan? -- Mark Episkopos, National Interest

As order is restored in Kazakhstan, its future remains murky -- Shaun Walker, The Guardian

Cold War-style power grab plays out with deadly consequences on the streets of Kazakhstan -- Tim Lister, CNN

Kazakhstan, Russia, and why recent protests matter -- Brigid Kennedy, The Week

Kazakhstan’s unrest narrative derailed by confusion and blackout -- Peter Leonard, Eurasianet

Here's why the unrest in Kazakhstan is wreaking havoc on crypto and commodity markets -- Isabelle Lee, Markets Insider