ANTICORRUPTION POLICY IN CANADA AND KAZAKHSTAN: BOTTOM-UP VS. TOP-DOWN AGENDA SETTING

Abstract

In this paper, we will investigate the process of agenda setting in Canada and Kazakhstan with regard to anti-corruption policy. A comparative analysis of anti-corruption policies in countries with absolutely different historical, political, economic and cultural traditions like developed liberal-democratic state Canada and young developing Central Asian Republic - Kazakhstan seems at the first view, bizarre and casual. However, taking into account the assumption of public policy analysts Jenson and Stark that “the policy making agenda is created out of the history, traditions, attitudes and beliefs…”[1] present comparative cross-nation analysis allows not only to reveal similarities and divergences in anti-corruption initiatives and policies of both states, but to define and analyze how the agenda-setting behavior essentially differs in present countries, depending on type and nature of the political regime.

Keywords: Agenda-setting, Canada, Kazakhstan, anti-corruption

[1] JENSON, 1991; STARK, 1992 in M. HOWLETT M and M. RAMESH and A.PERL, “Studying Public Policy Circles and Policy Subsystems”, Oxford/NewYork: Oxford University Press. 2009, p. 98