KAZAKHSTAN’S FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION (1991-2019)

Abstract

 This paper examines the role of international recognition in shaping the political system of Kazakhstan from its independence in 1991 up to 2019. It highlights Kazakhstan’s active participation in international organizations such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as its engagement in regional frameworks including the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). The study further analyzes how, under the leadership of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan pursued a pragmatic and multi-vector foreign policy, balancing its relations with major global powers such as Russia, China, the United States, and the European Union. By adopting this approach, Kazakhstan sought to safeguard its sovereignty, attract foreign investment, and enhance its global legitimacy.

The paper underscores that the period between 1991 and 2019 holds particular significance because Kazakhstan underwent dramatic changes both domestically and internationally. The most notable transformation was the transfer of power in 2019, which marked the end of the long-standing presidential rule of Nazarbayev. This transition not only reshaped Kazakhstan’s internal political landscape but also influenced the direction and priorities of its foreign policy. The change in leadership created a new environment in which public consent for change and expectations for the future became increasingly visible, reflecting the evolving aspirations of Kazakh society.

Against this backdrop, the paper investigates how the 2019 transition affected Kazakhstan’s foreign policy orientations, its pursuit of international recognition, and the consolidation of domestic legitimacy. Through this analysis, the paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the interplay between recognition, diplomacy, and political transformation, showing how Kazakhstan’s international engagements and domestic political developments between 1991 and 2019 have been mutually reinforcing in shaping the country’s path toward stability and legitimacy.