TY  - JOUR
AB  - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the emergence of e-government in post-Soviet countries using Kazakhstan as a case study. Extant research on e-government in developing countries highlights significant benefits including improved public services, reduced corruption, and more open and inclusive government. The paper asserts the presence of an e-government paradox which limits its potential to improve public services.Design/methodology/approach Primary data were collected from a number of sources: 6 focus groups with central government agencies, local authorities and civil society organisations; 25 structured and semi-structured interviews; and participant observation.Findings The research finds evidence of an e-government paradox in five forms: an emphasis on technological development; transactional services are faster but have displaced attention from core public services; petty corruption has been reduced but grand corruption remains; isomorphic mimicry; and greater participation by citizens has been limited.Research limitations/implications The focus of the research is Kazakhstan. Applying the lessons learned to other post-Soviet countries has limitations given their different stages of development since independence.Practical implications The key practical implication of this research is that countries can become absorbed by e-government technology without questioning the fundamental business model which underpins how public services are delivered. Ultimately, this impacts on the social value of e-government.Originality/value While existing research has examined how e-government has been implemented in developing countries, this paper focusses on Kazakhstan as an authoritarian state with wider implications for post-Soviet countries.
VL  - 32
IS  - 6
SN  - 0951-3558
DO  - 10.1108/IJPSM-08-2018-0173
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-08-2018-0173
AU  - Knox Colin
AU  - Janenova Saltanat
PY  - 2019
Y1  - 2019/01/01
TI  - The e-government paradox in post-Soviet countries
T2  - International Journal of Public Sector Management
PB  - Emerald Publishing Limited
SP  - 600
EP  - 615
Y2  - 2024/04/25
ER  -