Kazakhstan: A Central Asian Powerhouse

Aug 29, 2024

Kazakhstan in 2017: A Powerhouse in Central Asia

Key Events

  • International Expo: Hosted in 2017, showcasing Kazakhstan on the world stage.
  • UN Security Council: Holds a non-permanent seat, marking its influence in global affairs.

Geographical and Demographic Overview

  • Size: Largest landlocked country in the world; ninth largest overall with over 1 million square miles.
  • Population: About 18 million, leading to one of the lowest population densities globally.

Economic Landscape

  • Economic Power: Dominant in Central Asia, heavily reliant on crude oil and petroleum gas.
  • GDP: Was $240 billion in 2014; declined by over $100 billion due to global oil price collapse.
  • Impact: Economic challenges have affected living conditions and general well-being.

Political Climate

  • Leadership: Nursultan Nazarbayev, in power for 25 years, often described as authoritarian.
  • Rights and Freedoms: Reports of human rights abuses, lack of free speech, and imprisonment of political activists.
  • Democracy: Although officially democratic, practices are contrary to democratic principles.

Societal Composition

  • Diversity: Home to over 130 ethnic groups, predominantly Kazakh and Islamic.
  • Cultural Shifts: Transitioning alphabet from Cyrillic to Latin to assert independence from Russia.

Military and Defense

  • Military Size: Relatively small, ranked 55th worldwide with about 100,000 troops.
  • Defense Spending: $2.4 billion defense budget.
  • Conscription: Mandatory military service being phased out.
  • International Alliances: Member of various international and regional security organizations, reducing the need for a large standalone military.
    • Collective Security Treaty Organization: Includes Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Russia.
    • United Nations and World Trade Organization memberships.

Challenges and Opportunities

  • Economic Recovery: Struggling to regain economic strength post-oil price collapse.
  • Human Rights: Need to address abuses within its political system.
  • Regional Influence: Part of "The Stans", a collective regional force in Central Asia.

Conclusion

Kazakhstan is a unique blend of internal strength and external reliance. It continues to assert its role both regionally and internationally despite facing significant domestic challenges.