Troubles in Kazakhstan; a realpolitik test for the West

Afzal Amin | 11th January 2022 | Comment

It is in the West's interest that Kazakhstan's significant advances of the last 30 years are maintained, argues Afzal Amin

Over the last week, events in Kazakhstan were portrayed across mainstream and social media with such variety that it was almost impossible to have an early accurate view. Whilst there is still much to learn about what unfolded and who is responsible, some details are beginning to emerge.

However, first we must point out that those of us who have an intimate knowledge of the country know that first and foremost Kazakhstan is a wonderful, hospitable and successful country which welcomes tourists, investors and foreign workers from all over the world, especially the West, and very much so, the UK.

A fascinating journey; from a Soviet Republic to a reliable western partner

Kazakhstan is a country which stands out in several ways, perhaps most significantly as one of the pivot points of the East and West, politically and geographically. In the 90’s, Zbigniew Brzeziński, a former US National Security Advisor, wrote that whoever wished to control the world needed first to control Central Asia. In its three decades since independence from the USSR, Kazakhstan has prevented external influences controlling the country and has achieved remarkable successes, politically, economically and strategically. It is the most pro-Western of the former Soviet republics, has a liberal economy and a highly educated and skilled population. It has carefully charted the travails of global and regional …

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