Since gaining independence, Kazakhstan has needed professional political scientists who know the system of government bodies, as well as those who possess public administration skills, to carry out domestic and foreign policy activities. As noted by the Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor T.T. Mustafin, "Political science is necessary for the development of a clear concept of the Kazakh state, which includes not only legal support for the management mechanism, but also the definition of national development goals, national security priorities. Relying on political science, it is possible to ensure the identity, social orientation and competence of the political course."

Famous Kazakh scientist, doctor of historical sciences, Professor, the Honored Worker of Higher School of Kazakhstan, President of the Academy of Political Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Mustafin Tlemis Tleugabylovich. 

The organizer and the first head of the chair was a well-known Kazakh scientist, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honored Worker of the Higher School of Kazakhstan, President of the Academy of Political Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mustafin Tlemis Tleugabylovich. He is known as an honored teacher of higher education, an excellent lecturer and organizer of the educational process, an active participant in international and national scientific conferences. Headed from 1991 to 1998 by Professor T.T. Mustafin, the Department of Political Science was recognized as one of the centers for the development of political sciences in Kazakhstan.

The first educational programs, teaching materials, and state standards were developed at the Chair of Political Science at al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Already in the early 90s, a textbook was published in three parts in the state language "Sayasattanuga kirispe", the first course of lectures for political science students "Political Science".

Professor Baideldinov Laik Amirovich was the head of the Chair of Political Science from 1998 to 2000, preserving all the traditions laid down under T.T. Mustafin, actively contributed to the opening of the Kazakh department in the specialty of political science.

From 2001 to 2002, the head of the Chair of Political Science was Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Kamal Nizamuly Burkhanov. Professor Burkhanov K.N. is a well-known political scientist in Kazakhstan, an expert in the field of terrorism and extremism in Central Asia.

From July 2002 to August 2011, the Chair of Political Science was headed by Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Ivatova Lyaila Murzalinovna. Under her leadership, a PhD program in political science was introduced, relations were established with the faculties of political science of universities in the USA, Great Britain, France, Hungary, Poland, South Korea, disciplines in English were introduced.

Since 2011, the chair has been headed by Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Gulnar Nasimova, Chairman of the Dissertation Council at al-Farabi Kazakh National University for Social Sciences.

The Chair of Political Science and Political Technologies of the Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science provides training for bachelors, masters and PhD doctors in the specialties 5B050200, 6M050200, 6D050200-Political Science, as well as teaching the course "Political Science" of the cycle of general education disciplines at the humanities and natural sciences faculties of the University in Kazakh, Russian and English.

Over the past 10 years, the chair has developed and implemented new educational programs (EP) in the bachelor's, master's, doctoral PhD specialties: "6B03106-Political Science", "7M03110-Political Science","7M03108-Conflict Studies", "7M03107-Public Administration and Public Security", "8D03104-Political Science", "8D03103-Conflict Studies". During their development, comparability with the programs of leading foreign universities was ensured, which significantly increases the opportunities for international academic mobility of students. 103 standard curricula have been developed and/or published and 46 basic curricula have been prepared for all levels of education in accordance with the new SES and educational and professional programs in Kazakh and Russian.

According to the specialties of the chair, specifications of educational programs for the formation of instrumental, interpersonal, systemic and subject competencies for future specialists and Catalogs of mandatory and elective disciplines were also compiled in three languages, taking into account the modules of the educational program and the competence approach.

In 2015, the International Commission for Accreditation FIBAA awarded a quality certificate for the program "Political Science" in the direction of doctoral studies PhD. In July 2020, the Independent Agency for Accreditation and Examination of the Quality of Education "ARQA" awarded a Quality Certificate to the educational programs "Political Science" (bachelor's/master's degree).

Currently, the department employs well-known scientists in the Republic of Kazakhstan, highly qualified teachers with rich pedagogical experience. At different stages of scientific and pedagogical activity at the Department of Political Science and Political Technologies, Doctors of Sciences, professors Soloviev A.V., Absattarov R.B., Balgimbayev A.S., Bizhanov A.H., Ishmukhamedov A.Sh., Laumulin M.T., Mashan M.S., Nurmagambetov A.A., Sarsenbayev T.S., Kasymzhanov A.K., Ibrashev Zh.O., Puzikov M. F., Biekenov K. U., Nysanbayev A.N., Lisovskaya V.I. Candidates of Sciences and associate professors Lukpanov A.I., Abdygaliev B., Abisheva M.A., Askeeva G.B., Bekbutaev B.A., Ishmukhamedov Sh.A., Kabulova A.Sh., Kadyrzhanova A.S., Kazymbetov K.N., Karin E.T., Lisovskaya V.I., Nazkhanov K.N., Osipov V.P., Tezekbayev G.Zh., Sharipov U.Kh., Saitova N.A.

Teachers of the Chair of Political Science and Political Technologies have successfully completed internships abroad within the framework of the Presidential program "Bolashak": Kaidarova A.S., Akbolat D.E., Omargazy E.E., Seisebayeva R.B., Rakhimbekova B.K., Abzhapparova A.A., Mustafin B.E.

The most invaluable contribution of the department to the formation of independent Kazakhstan is graduates. Today, more than 1,000 graduates of the department work in research institutes and analytical centers, the Presidential Administration, the Parliament, akimats, political parties, and the media. This is the environment of them.Karin, This Is Ya. Babakumarov, B. Temirbolat, K. Iskakov, S. Kushkumbayev. Chebotarev. Nukenov, M. Nurgalieva, A. Zhusupova, M. Sengirbay, N. Baigaraev. Suleymanov, S. Bokaev, D. Babamuratov, M. Akhmetov, Yes. Beisenbayev and others

The Chair of Political Science and Political Technologies, with the support of the famous political scientist of Kazakhstan E.T. Karin, established scholarships named after T. Mustafin, S. Zhusupov, N. Masanov, L. Baideldinov for students.

In connection with the implementation of the PhD program at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, cooperation with foreign universities and research centers has significantly expanded: California, Santa Barbara University, Oklahoma University (USA), Shanghai University, Hanyang University (Seoul, South Korea), Xinjiang Pedagogical University, Ili Pedagogical University (China), the International Center for Political Studies (France), Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), the Institute of Population and Social Research, Mahidola University (Nakhon Pathom, Thailand).

Every year, bachelor's, Master's and PhD students listen to lectures by foreign professors •

* Cynthia Kaplan-PhD, Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).

* Ari Jampaklay-PhD, Professor at Mahidol University, Thailand.

A joint educational program of double-degree education with St. Kliment Ohridsky Sofia University, Bulgaria, has been launched.

Under the academic mobility program, cooperation has been established with the University of California (USA), Uppsala University (Sweden), the University of Padua (Italy), the University of Lancusa (Romania), Radboud University (Nijmegen, the Netherlands), Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia), the Tbilisi Institute of International Relations (Georgia), Istanbul University (Turkey), Sangmyong University (Yu.Korea)

Foreign students from the USA, Israel, China, South Korea, Afghanistan, Poland, Russia and Ukraine study at the department for bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs.

The main directions of the research work of the Chair of Political Science and Political Technologies are: modern political processes and democratization of the Kazakh society; the processes of modernization of the political system of the Republic of Kazakhstan; modern political technologies and political management; political problems of international relations and global development, international and regional security.

The teaching staff of the chair conducts fundamental scientific research, so, under the leadership of Professor G. K. Abdigalieva, research was conducted on the topic "Modernization of spiritual and moral values of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the context of globalization", under the leadership of Professor S. S. Musatayev "Prospects for the development of the Eurasian Economic Union as a new regional association", under the leadership of Professor G. O. Nasimova "Socio-political stability as the basis of a new stage of development of Kazakhstan", "Formation of political culture of student youth". The research group of the project "Educational migration from Kazakhstan: trends, factors and socio-political consequences" included Professor of the University of California Santa Barbara S. Kaplan and Professor of the Institute of Population and Social Research of Mahidol University A. Dzhampaklay.

Currently, the chair is implementing a scientific project commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Protest potential in Kazakhstan: features, factors and trends", aimed at studying the features of the protest potential of Kazakh society, determining the degree of influence of factors both pushing for protest and restraining protest activity. Currently, the members of the research group are working on developing a methodology for assessing the level of protest potential in Kazakhstan.

Today, the chair cooperates with leading Kazakh research institutes and centers represented by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Philosophy and Political Science, the Institute of World Economy and Politics under the Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation, the Kazakhstan Center for Humanitarian and Political Conjuncture, the Center for Social and Political Studies "Strategy". Within the framework of the program of integration of science and education, undergraduates and doctoral students are being trained together with the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies.

Leading experts and employers are engaged to give lectures to students of the specialty political science. Among them: Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor, President of the Association for Political Studies Aliyarov E.K., Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor, member of the National Council of Public Trust under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Ileuova G.T., Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor Kadyrzhanov R.K., Candidate of Political Sciences Umbetalieva T.B.

Since 2013, the chair has opened the "Information Center for Political Studies of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University", the director of the center is Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Abdigalieva Gulzhan Kanaevna.

The Student Discussion Club "POLITOLOG" is actively working at the department, which has become a discussion platform not only at the university, but also at the national level. The club is headed by Associate Professor Nina Saitova.

Every year, within the framework of student competitions, festivals and Olympiads, the department presents the best scientific works of students of the Chair of Political Science written on topical topics covering various aspects of political life and the political process.