Sustaining Multivectorism: the case of Kazakhstan and its EU Vector

Locked between Europe and Asia, the Republic of Kazakhstan is a country rich in resources, strategically located, and aiming to become a relevant power within the region of Central Asia. It is a fascinating example of a post-Soviet country that has managed to remain friendly not only with Russia, but also with western countries, a foreign policy often coined ‘Multi-vector.’ However, ‘Multivectorism’ remains unclear on how Astana can continue to balance its relations in the coming years, in light of new geopolitical tensions between Kazakhstan’s partners. This thesis will address this problem by analysing Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy. It aims to answer the following question: To what degree can a partnership with the EU help sustain Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy in light of current geopolitical developments? The relevance of this question is two-fold. First, there seems to be relatively little research done on the exact nature of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector...Show moreLocked between Europe and Asia, the Republic of Kazakhstan is a country rich in resources, strategically located, and aiming to become a relevant power within the region of Central Asia. It is a fascinating example of a post-Soviet country that has managed to remain friendly not only with Russia, but also with western countries, a foreign policy often coined ‘Multi-vector.’ However, ‘Multivectorism’ remains unclear on how Astana can continue to balance its relations in the coming years, in light of new geopolitical tensions between Kazakhstan’s partners. This thesis will address this problem by analysing Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy. It aims to answer the following question: To what degree can a partnership with the EU help sustain Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy in light of current geopolitical developments? The relevance of this question is two-fold. First, there seems to be relatively little research done on the exact nature of Kazakhstan’s multi-vector foreign policy, particularly in the ways it can be sustained. Although several models are proposed, there is little consensus on what multi-vector foreign policy exactly is, and how it works. Second, there is a political relevance to this research. Kazakhstan needs to balance at all costs in order to stay independent; aligning itself too much to the West or towards Moscow may endanger its sovereignty and security. Thus, how Astana conducts its foreign policy is vital to its survival as a sovereign state. For the EU, this research is relevant in showing how a partnership with this country could look like and what expectations it can have, as well as to highlight how Kazakhstan perceives a partnership with the EU. Using data, interviews, and by analysing a large body of literature, this thesis aims to provide a comprehensive answer to the research question. Showing how Kazakhstan has managed its relations with its partners, in particular with Russia, over the past few decades, the thesis will highlight the large role of the EU in Kazakhstan's efforts to sustain Multivectorism.Show less

Leiden University Student Repository

Documents

In Collections

Sustaining Multivectorism: the case of Kazakhstan and its EU Vector