Publication

This publication discusses the foreign policy of Kazakhstan within its geopolitical parameters. The author emphasizes that Kazakhstan’s tremendous economic growth, which was fueled by the oil boom, largely explains its emergence as a major force in the new international politics of Eurasia. From his analysis he concludes that Kazakhstan’s ability to achieve its regional objectives will depend on several factors, including the state of the Eurasian economies, Kazakhstan’s success in transitioning to a post-Nazarbayev era of political leaders, the effectiveness of Astana’s stewardship of the OSCE, and the policies of the other important countries engaged in Central Asia and the Caspian region—above all China and Russia, but also the United States.