Sunday, May 26, 2013


Transmission

What Kazakh Schoolchildren Learn About Their President

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev
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Compared to the ostentatious and brutal excesses of his Turkmen or Uzbek counterparts, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has always seen himself as something more moderate and sophisticated.
 
While he hasn't gone in for gold statues or penned a national tome (like Turkmenistan's former president), there are still elements of a personality cult around him. (More on that here or in this good Slate piece.)

But for a brief glimpse of how schoolchildren are taught about their president in Kazakhstan, check out this video by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service.
 
Visiting a sculpture devoted to the Kazakh people in the capital, Astana, the tour guide explains to a school group how the monument also honors the greatness of Nazarbaev.

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by: arton from: london
April 17, 2012 15:08
WELL DONE PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN < YOU AR FIDELITY TO THE NATION > , I AM PROUD OF YOU AS KOSOVAN ..! LONG LIVE KAZAKHSTAN LONG LIVE PRESIDENT , AMIN MASHALLAH

by: Discerning from: Australia
April 18, 2012 11:32
What's wrong with that? if the person is doing well in managing the country out of economic crisis and in preserving its political stability? The whole of UK and Australia watched royal wedding of Prince William last year, the royal family is our pride. I can't name a country where kids wouldn't be taught to be proud of the leader of their country.
In Response

by: 55North from: Newcastle, England
April 18, 2012 19:42
I don't ever being specifically taught to be proud of any leader in my country, which is just as well as I have no respect for any of our official leaders. They are truly awful. Our Royals in particular do not lead. They just consume tremendous amounts of money and provide tourist attractions and newspaper fodder. They are more or less useless. If I can't vote for someone, I will not respect them as a leader.

About This Blog

Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org

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