How do knowledge actors navigate nondemocratic political regimes in an era of poly-crisis? What functions do expert institutions, such as think tanks, perform in such contexts? Do they merely legitimize existing state policies, or does their advice contribute to evidence-based policymaking? These are the central questions addressed in this article through a case study of Kazakhstani think tanks operating as expert institutions within a soft authoritarian setting. The study is situated against the backdrop of contradictory political developments: a gradual tightening of autocratic rule, followed by the introduction of new consultative and participatory mechanisms amid multiple overlapping crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic civil unrest, and the deteriorating regional security order following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The analysis draws on an original dataset comprising expert interviews with Kazakhstani think tankers. By examining the intersections of think tanks, politics, and policymaking in a soft authoritarian regime during a time of poly-crisis, this article contributes nuanced insights into the role of expert institutions beyond liberal democracies and lays the groundwork for more informed cross-regime comparisons.
