alma sultangaliyeva succeeded lev tarakov as the director of the kaziss. being an academician orientalist, a new director made the kaziss analysis receive more academic character, more attention was paid to the issues of islam. the shift of the analytical focus proved well-timed as the islamic factor in the world politics and particularly in central asia grew in importance. in 1998, yermukhamet yertysbayev headed the institute. director yertysbayev had both a political and academic background. he was able to establish an active dialogue with the opposition.