However, the government likes bloggers about as much as it likes independent media. Which is to say, not very much.

As for government websites, the criticism that information is not clearly presented and easily accessed is on point. However, this is not a technological problem. The bureaucracy thrives on making sure that people are in as much doubt as possible over what the proper procedure is, so that any claims against them of being slow or inefficient can be deflected with accusations of failure to follow proper procedures. Until most procedures are simplified, the average Internet user will have to be a lawyer. In fact, the average Almaty blogger probably IS a lawyer; it’s the kind of office most likely to have high speed Internet readily available for research.

Concerned Kazakh, I really think that internet use and blogging is going to expand in Kazakhstan really rapidly, especially if the government helps out a bit with the cost and infrastructure.

Let’s clarify things a little. I agree absolutely that people’s attitudes in KZ will need to change before the Internet is of any use to them. I think where we diverge is in thinking about how this change will (ought to) come about. You seem to argue that the Kazakhstanis should be left alone and allowed to grow organically into the state of mind where they’re Internet-ready. It’s a hands-off approach to the local culture and as such is very Western and PC. I understand it but do not sympathize with it. My goal is to have my country develop as quickly as possible and for that a certain amount of shock therapy, for want of a better word, it warranted. So foisting the Internet on people will likely hasten the formation of attitudes that we both agree they right now lack. To me it’s a good thing, to be aided as much as possible.

All right, that’s my two cents.

There are too many maybes in this sentence. One can second-guess the usefulness of something to no end. It’s a bit like arguing which hydrant to pump water from while the house burns down. (Maybe that’s overly dramatic, but the principle is correct.) If the people don’t want the Internet, they won’t use it. If they want it for something other than Americans-Germans-what-have-you, they’ll use it for those other purposes. The beneficial effects a wired environment has on business productivity, political openness, and cultural development are enormous (see Hal Varian’s work on some of the economic aspects, for example). To me, the cost-benefit analysis is simple: will the drive to expand Internet use harm Kazakhstanis? I fail to see how. Will it help? Most likely. It’s easy to see which way the scale is tipping here.

I see your point and I don’t want to say that Kazakhs don’t don’t deserve the Internet or can’t learn the Internet. Not at all. But I also don’t think one should force things on people just because it’s the new cool thing or all the western countries are doing it.

I still hold that if the Internet is to catch on in Kazakhstan it will take more than just handing it to people, it will also changing people’s views and socialization.

Thanks for the comment, I hope we get some more on this!