Economic Growth and the Feminisation of Political Science in Kazakhstan: A Leaky Pipeline?

Abstract

Academia, in much of the world, has long been disproportionately populated by men. This pattern, at least in the social sciences, may be changing. We explore the shifting gender gap in political science in Kazakhstan, and then set out to explore potential determinants of the changes as well as the resulting employment patterns. We use time-series data to demonstrate that a rising GDP, shifting fertility rates, occupational prestige and a growing population are related to the increase in the number of women entering political science in Kazakhstan, which, nevertheless, has not resulted in employment parity.

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Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 For a review see Bank (2011).

2 ‘The Condition of Education 2013’, National Center for Education Statistics, May, available at: https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2013/2013037.pdf, accessed 19 November 2021.

3 Kazakhstan belongs to the category of developing countries according to the International Monetary Fund’s World Economic Outlook, available at: https://cutt.ly/JWgEX05, accessed 28 August 2021.

4 For more details see Kassen (2019).

5 For more details of the biographies of prime ministers see Ashimbaev (2012).

6 ‘Census 2009’, Committee on Statistics, Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, available at: http://stat.gov.kz, accessed 15 March 2016.

7 Raw data can be found at: https://cutt.ly/IWgUXg1, accessed 30 August 2021. An aggregate dataset is available by request.

8 See also Becker et al. (2010).

9 For more details on gender balance in university enrolment in the Soviet period see Gerber and Schaefer (2004).

10 Several features differentiate this two-tiered system from its Western counterpart. First, it is a highly centralised system, wherein degrees are awarded by the Ministry of Education (more precisely, a central state-wide board called the Higher Attestation Commission) rather than a university. Second, a defence of the dissertation is carried out more formally than it is in the West. The dissertation is defended before a committee called the Scientific Council. This group consists of approximately 20 members, who are supposedly the leading experts in the field and who have been approved to be on the committee. So, rather than having to defend the dissertation before a panel of faculty members, one has to do that before a broader panel. Thus, this situation makes the members of the Scientific Council and its chair the academic gatekeepers. Consequently, many degree candidates seek out a member of the Council for the role of their thesis adviser. Once the defence is successful, the degree is due to be certified by a government agency.

11 Additionally, there are two types of tracks for the Kandidat nauk degree. The first, the aspirantura, approximates a Western PhD. The aspirant attends classes, passes a qualifying examination, receives a stipend and works on the thesis (dissertation). The second type, a soiskatel, is not required to attend classes and does not receive a stipend. Although soiskateli too have to pass a qualifying examination and write a dissertation, they can work in a non-academic organisation and, generally, have more flexibility with the number and duration of breaks before the attainment of the degree.

12 Reviews of National Policies for Education. Higher Education in Kazakhstan (Paris, OECD Publications, 2007, p. 20).

13 According to official data of the Bureau of National Statistics on the gross enrolment in higher education, the number of students went up; available at: https://taldau.stat.gov.kz/ru/NewIndex/GetIndex/18951814?keyword=, accessed 31 August 2021.

14 We do not include in this analysis data on the defence of dissertations after 2010, because this number decreased significantly with the establishment of the Western system. Fewer than 20 PhDs were awarded in the period 2010–2019.

15 World bank data, available at: https://cutt.ly/bWjPjCC, accessed 31 August 2021.

16 Those listed in Ashimbaev’s Who’s Who in Kazakhstan can be defined as members of the elite in Kazakhstan. All data can be retrieved in Bureau of National Statistics, TALDAU information-analytical system, available at: https://cutt.ly/mWjO3Ir, accessed 31 August 2021.

17 Since Western and Jackman (1994), numerous studies have employed Bayesian methods to make small n inference. For a few examples see, Tallmon et al. (2004), Schäfer and Strimmer (2005), Gainous and Wagner (2007, 2011), Cann (2008).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Adil Rodionov

Adil Rodionov, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 6 Educational Building #4, Yanushkevich Street, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan. Email: [email protected]

Zhaxylyk Sabitov

Zhaxylyk Sabitov, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 6 Educational Building #4, Yanushkevich Street, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan. Email: [email protected]

Jason Gainous

Jason Gainous, Duke Kunshan University, 215316 No. 8 Duke Avenue, Kunshan, Jiangsu, 215316, China. Email: [email protected]

Kevin M. Wagner

Kevin M. Wagner, Department of Political Science, Florida Atlantic University, Social Science Building, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA. Email: [email protected]

Amanzhol Bekmagambetov

Amanzhol Bekmagambetov, University of Georgia, 180 Baldwin Hall, Athens, GA 30602, USA. Email: [email protected]

Kamilya Rodionova

Kamilya Rodionova, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, 6 Educational Building #4, Yanushkevich Street, Nur-Sultan 010008, Kazakhstan. Email: [email protected]