Editor2018 at 19:34, 15 May 2019

2019-05-15T19:34:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:34, 15 May 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{infobox		{{infobox
	\| nameofpractice = Agashka		\| nameofpractice =Agashka
	\| location = Kazakhstan		\| flagemoji =🇰🇿
	\| imagemap = ~~Kazakhstan_map~~.png		\| definition =An influential figure with strong personal connections; a patron
	\| ~~imageflag~~ = ~~Kazakhstan_flag.png~~		\| location =Kazakhstan
	\| authorofpiece = Natsuko Oka		\| imagemap =Kazakhstan map.png
	\| authorinstitution = Area Studies Centre, IDE-JETRO, Japan		\| clusters =
	}}		[[:Category:Redistribution\|Redistribution]] – [[:Category: Substantive ambivalence\| Substantive ambivalence]] – [[:Category: Instrumentality of sociability\| Instrumentality of sociability]] – [[:Category: Economies of favours\| Economies of favours]] – [[:Category: Patron-client networks\| Patron-client networks]]
			\| categories =
	~~'''''Original text by <span class~~=~~"plainlinks">~~[~~http~~://www.ide.go.jp/English/Researchers/oka_natsuko_en.html ~~Natsuko Oka~~]<~~/span~~>, Area Studies Centre, IDE-JETRO, Japan'''''		[[:Category:Kazakhstan\|Kazakhstan]] – [[:Category: FSU\| FSU]] – [[:Category: Central Asia\| Central Asia]] – [[:Category: Influence\| Influence]] – [[:Category: Personal connections\| Personal connections]] – [[:Category: Brokerage\| Brokerage]] – [[:Category: Triangle\| Triangle]] – [[:Category: Favour\| Favour]]
			\| authorofpiece =Natsuko Oka
	~~<div~~ class="~~toccolours mw~~-~~collapsible mw~~-~~collapsed~~">		\| authorinstitution =Area Studies Centre, IDE-JETRO, Japan
	In Kazakhstan, an influential figure with strong personal connections enabling him to achieve objectives in informal ways. This term is formed from the word ‘aga’, the Russianised version of the Kazakh word ‘agha’, meaning an elder male relative such as an older brother or uncle, and the Russian diminutive suffix ‘-shka’. ''Agashka'' is in wide currency mostly among Russian-speaking Kazakhs in contemporary Kazakhstan, but not generally used in the Kazakh language. The term is typically associated with a wealthy Kazakh male of middle or old age. However, the most important characteristic of an ''agashka'' lies in his ability to use informal connections to circumvent official procedures and to provide favours for his closed circle of family, friends, and clients. Thus, the term ''agashka'' can be applied to any individual who functions as a patron by using personal contacts with those in official positions, irrespective of age or ethnic background. Its female version ''tateshka'' in most cases simply means an elder female relative or elder (middle- or old-aged) woman, but is also a woman with strong connections, or a spouse of an ''agashka''. ''Agashka's'' closest synonym is perhaps the word [[krysha]] (‘roof’ or ‘cover’) in Russian.		\| authorwebsite =[https://www.ide.go.jp/English/Researchers/oka_natsuko_en.html Profile page at IDE]}}
			<big>'''By Natsuko Oka, Area Studies Centre, IDE-JETRO, Japan'''</big>
	~~<div class="mw-collapsible-content">~~		[[Category:Redistribution]]
			[[Category: Substantive ambivalence]]
			[[Category: Instrumentality of sociability]]
			[[Category: Economies of favours]]
			[[Category: Patron-client networks]]
			[[Category: Intermediation]]
			[[Category:Kazakhstan]]
			[[Category: FSU]]
			[[Category: Central Asia]]
			[[Category: Influence]]
			[[Category: Personal connections]]
			[[Category: Brokerage]]
			[[Category: Triangle]]
			[[Category: Favour]]
			[[Category:Entry]]
			[[Category: Volume 1]]
			{\| class="wikitable"
			\|-
			\|style="font-size:1.1em;"\| In Kazakhstan, an influential figure with strong personal connections enabling him to achieve objectives in informal ways. This term is formed from the word ‘aga’, the Russianised version of the Kazakh word ‘agha’, meaning an elder male relative such as an older brother or uncle, and the Russian diminutive suffix ‘-shka’. ''Agashka'' is in wide currency mostly among Russian-speaking Kazakhs in contemporary Kazakhstan, but not generally used in the Kazakh language. The term is typically associated with a wealthy Kazakh male of middle or old age. However, the most important characteristic of an ''agashka'' lies in his ability to use informal connections to circumvent official procedures and to provide favours for his closed circle of family, friends, and clients. Thus, the term ''agashka'' can be applied to any individual who functions as a patron by using personal contacts with those in official positions, irrespective of age or ethnic background. Its female version ''tateshka'' in most cases simply means an elder female relative or elder (middle- or old-aged) woman, but is also a woman with strong connections, or a spouse of an ''agashka''. ''Agashka's'' closest synonym is perhaps the word [[krysha]] (‘roof’ or ‘cover’) in Russian.
			\|}
	[[File:Agashka cartoon.JPG\|300px\|thumb\|left\|A typical image of agashka and his client. ‘Cartoon representation of Agashka by Vladimir Kadyrbaev.’]]		[[File:Agashka cartoon.JPG\|300px\|thumb\|left\|A typical image of agashka and his client. ‘Cartoon representation of Agashka by Vladimir Kadyrbaev.’]]

	''Agashka'', in the usage we observe today, came into common use in the 1990s. While the term is not recorded in dictionaries of the Russian or Kazakh languages, analysts and journalists in Kazakhstan have made some attempts to describe the phenomenon of ''agashka'' (sometimes suffixes are added to specify reference to the general phenomenon: ''agashkizm'', ''agashizm'', or ''agashestvo''). While precise definitions of ''agashka'' somewhat vary among observers, there is agreement that it is an informal status. A typical ''agashka'' is a government official with a loyal following of subordinates (whom he helped to get employed), enjoying the use of a high-class official car for private purposes. However, the source of an ''agashka's'' influence is not based on his office ''per se'' but rather ''his personal relationships with those in power'', from high-ranking officials in the central government to heads of local administration. Although most ''agashki'' hold or have held an official position in the state or an organisation connected to it, their ability to exert influence does not necessarily correspond to the level or sphere of the official post.		''Agashka'', in the usage we observe today, came into common use in the 1990s. While the term is not recorded in dictionaries of the Russian or Kazakh languages, analysts and journalists in Kazakhstan have made some attempts to describe the phenomenon of ''agashka'' (sometimes suffixes are added to specify reference to the general phenomenon: ''agashkizm'', ''agashizm'', or ''agashestvo''). While precise definitions of ''agashka'' somewhat vary among observers, there is agreement that it is an informal status. A typical ''agashka'' is a government official with a loyal following of subordinates (whom he helped to get employed), enjoying the use of a high-class official car for private purposes. However, the source of an ''agashka's'' influence is not based on his office ''per se'' but rather ''his personal relationships with those in power'', from high-ranking officials in the central government to heads of local administration. Although most ''agashki'' hold or have held an official position in the state or an organisation connected to it, their ability to exert influence does not necessarily correspond to the level or sphere of the official post.

Line 25:		Line 43:

	In its present form, however, ''agashka'' is also the product of the post-Soviet expansion of market relations, which brought changes to the function and nature of informal networks developed under the socialist economy. Following the introduction of market principles in the 1990s, those with financial resources increasingly prefer to invest money in expanding their practical networks beyond the kinship divisions<ref>Rigi, Jakob. 2004. ‘Corruption in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan’, in Italo Pardo (ed.), Between Morality and the Law: Corruption, Anthropology and Comparative Society. Aldershot: Ashgate:101-117.</ref>. One of the most widespread perceptions with respect to ''agashki'' is that their children have an advantage over the others in getting a national scholarship to study overseas, or seeking a job in the public sector or national companies. ''Agashka's'' network of favours, however, is not limited to family and kinship ties. Here, the simple definition by Kazakhstani political analyst Dossym Satpayev is relevant: ‘''Agashka'' is a person whose connections bring money, and that money brings new connections.’ Thus, the major criterion for ''agashka'' in post-Soviet Kazakhstan is affiliation to certain financial sources, or a group of common material interests in which a variety of ethnicities, clans, and regions can be represented<ref>Satpaev, D. A. 1999. Lobbizm: tainye rychagi vlasti. Almaty: Qazaqstan damu instituty.</ref><ref>Umbetalieva, Tolganai and Dosym Satpayev, Dosym. 2012. ‘Political Elites in Kazakhstan’, in Andreas Heinrich and Heiko Pleines (eds), Challenges of the Caspian Resource Boom: Domestic Elites and Policy-Making. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan: 73-88</ref><ref>Schatz, Edward.2012. “Kinship and the State in Kazakhstan’s Political Economy,” in A. Heinrich and H. Pleines (eds), Challenges of the Caspian Resource Boom: Domestic Elites and Policy- Making. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan: 89-101.</ref>.		In its present form, however, ''agashka'' is also the product of the post-Soviet expansion of market relations, which brought changes to the function and nature of informal networks developed under the socialist economy. Following the introduction of market principles in the 1990s, those with financial resources increasingly prefer to invest money in expanding their practical networks beyond the kinship divisions<ref>Rigi, Jakob. 2004. ‘Corruption in Post-Soviet Kazakhstan’, in Italo Pardo (ed.), Between Morality and the Law: Corruption, Anthropology and Comparative Society. Aldershot: Ashgate:101-117.</ref>. One of the most widespread perceptions with respect to ''agashki'' is that their children have an advantage over the others in getting a national scholarship to study overseas, or seeking a job in the public sector or national companies. ''Agashka's'' network of favours, however, is not limited to family and kinship ties. Here, the simple definition by Kazakhstani political analyst Dossym Satpayev is relevant: ‘''Agashka'' is a person whose connections bring money, and that money brings new connections.’ Thus, the major criterion for ''agashka'' in post-Soviet Kazakhstan is affiliation to certain financial sources, or a group of common material interests in which a variety of ethnicities, clans, and regions can be represented<ref>Satpaev, D. A. 1999. Lobbizm: tainye rychagi vlasti. Almaty: Qazaqstan damu instituty.</ref><ref>Umbetalieva, Tolganai and Dosym Satpayev, Dosym. 2012. ‘Political Elites in Kazakhstan’, in Andreas Heinrich and Heiko Pleines (eds), Challenges of the Caspian Resource Boom: Domestic Elites and Policy-Making. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan: 73-88</ref><ref>Schatz, Edward.2012. “Kinship and the State in Kazakhstan’s Political Economy,” in A. Heinrich and H. Pleines (eds), Challenges of the Caspian Resource Boom: Domestic Elites and Policy- Making. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan: 89-101.</ref>.
	~~</div>~~
	~~</div>~~

	~~==Notes==~~
	~~<references />~~

	~~[[Category:Informal Practices]]~~
	~~[[Category:Kazakhstan]]~~
	~~[[Category:CIS]]~~
	~~[[Category:FSU]]~~
	~~[[Category:Central Asia]]~~
	~~[[Category:Substantive]]~~
	~~[[Category:Economies of favours]]~~
	~~[[Category:Gift]]~~
	~~[[Category:Favour]]~~
	~~[[Category:Connections]]~~
	~~[[Category:Network]]~~
	~~[[Category:Kinship]]~~

	~~[[Category:Entry]]~~		==References==

Admin at 16:15, 5 October 2018

2018-10-05T16:15:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 5 October 2018
Line 40:		Line 40:
	[[Category:Gift]]		[[Category:Gift]]
	[[Category:Favour]]		[[Category:Favour]]
	[[Category:~~Personal~~ Connections]]		[[Category:Connections]]
	[[Category:Network]]		[[Category:Network]]
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]

	[[Category:Entry]]		[[Category:Entry]]

Admin at 16:05, 5 October 2018

2018-10-05T16:05:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 5 October 2018
Line 43:		Line 43:
	[[Category:Network]]		[[Category:Network]]
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]
	~~[[Category:Material Interests]]~~

	[[Category:Entry]]		[[Category:Entry]]

Admin at 16:01, 5 October 2018

2018-10-05T16:01:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:01, 5 October 2018
Line 42:		Line 42:
	[[Category:Personal Connections]]		[[Category:Personal Connections]]
	[[Category:Network]]		[[Category:Network]]
	~~[[Category:Kinship Divisions]]~~
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]
	[[Category:Material Interests]]		[[Category:Material Interests]]

	[[Category:Entry]]		[[Category:Entry]]

Admin at 15:58, 5 October 2018

2018-10-05T15:58:25Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:58, 5 October 2018
Line 41:		Line 41:
	[[Category:Favour]]		[[Category:Favour]]
	[[Category:Personal Connections]]		[[Category:Personal Connections]]
	[[Category:~~Informal Networks~~]]		[[Category:Network]]
	[[Category:Kinship Divisions]]		[[Category:Kinship Divisions]]
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]

Admin at 18:20, 17 September 2018

2018-09-17T18:20:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:20, 17 September 2018
Line 33:		Line 33:
	[[Category:Informal Practices]]		[[Category:Informal Practices]]
	[[Category:Kazakhstan]]		[[Category:Kazakhstan]]
			[[Category:CIS]]
	[[Category:FSU]]		[[Category:FSU]]
	[[Category:Central Asia]]		[[Category:Central Asia]]

Admin at 18:17, 17 September 2018

2018-09-17T18:17:47Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:17, 17 September 2018
Line 33:		Line 33:
	[[Category:Informal Practices]]		[[Category:Informal Practices]]
	[[Category:Kazakhstan]]		[[Category:Kazakhstan]]
	[[Category:~~CISFSU~~]]		[[Category:FSU]]
	[[Category:Central Asia]]		[[Category:Central Asia]]
	[[Category:Substantive]]		[[Category:Substantive]]

Admin at 15:40, 27 June 2018

2018-06-27T15:40:43Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:40, 27 June 2018
Line 44:		Line 44:
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]
	[[Category:Material Interests]]		[[Category:Material Interests]]

			[[Category:Entry]]

Admin: Admin moved page Agashka to Agashka (Kazakhstan) without leaving a redirect

2018-05-31T12:09:45Z

Admin moved page Agashka to Agashka (Kazakhstan) without leaving a redirect

← Older revision	Revision as of 12:09, 31 May 2018
(No difference)

Admin at 12:37, 15 May 2018

2018-05-15T12:37:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:37, 15 May 2018
Line 41:		Line 41:
	[[Category:Personal Connections]]		[[Category:Personal Connections]]
	[[Category:Informal Networks]]		[[Category:Informal Networks]]
	[[Category:~~The~~ Kinship Divisions]]		[[Category:Kinship Divisions]]
	[[Category:Kinship]]		[[Category:Kinship]]
	[[Category:Material Interests]]		[[Category:Material Interests]]

Agashka (Kazakhstan) - Revision history