ENERGY POLITICS: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF KAZAKHSTAN (original) (raw)

The Energy Vector of Kazakhstan-Russia Relations in the Context of Global Changes on the International Energy Market

Central Asia and the Caucasus, vol 21 issue 2, 2020

Kazakhstan actively cooperates with Russia in the energy sector, which is directly associated with the role played by the fuel and energy complex in the functioning of all sectors of the Kazakh economy. The paper considers the main factors in the development of Kazakhstan’s fuel and energy complex, and concludes that its partnership with Russia is important in ensuring national security in a contextual sense. The article also considers the risks of Kazakhstan’s energy policy based on the geopolitical competition of regional and global actors.

The role of oil and gas in Kazakhstan's foreign policy: Looking east or west?

Europe-Asia Studies, 2007

This study examines the role of oil and gas in the making of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. It argues that Kazakhstan has been following a multi-vector foreign policy in relation to its oil-led development and the geopolitics of exporting oil from this land-locked region. The significance of geopolitical considerations and the resulting pragmatism of Kazakhstan’s leadership only allow a limited role for national identity and internal political dynamics in the making of its foreign policy. Kazakhstan’s geopolitical imperatives force the country to keep good relations with Russia and China as well as with the US and the EU, as counter balancing partners.

Relationships Between Foreign Policy and Energy Security in Central Asia: A Case Study Of Kazakhstan

Journal of the Black Sea Studies, 2021

Kazakhstan is major energy producer in Central Asia, and has been pursuing a multi-vector foreign policy since it gained independence from Soviet Union. It has played host to many multinational energy from Russia, China, the USA and Europe. Nazarbayev's multilateral and multi-vector foreign and privatization policies have had a significant impact on the country's energy [security] policy over the last three decades. Emphasizing good relations between itself with both global and regional powers, Kazakhstan has maintained a balance among Russian, Western and Chinese companies via defensive realist approach. This balance is especially visible in both the role that those companies play in exploration projects, as well as in the building of oil and gas pipelines.

American Relations with Kazakhstan during 2001-2012: An Analytical Study

Pakistan Journal of International Affairs, 2021

The rise of Central Asian states got special attention from world powers due to their potential energy resources and strategic importance. Among the regional states, Kazakhstan is playing a vital role in worldwide politics because of its geopolitical position and richness in oil and gas assets. It is the leading landlocked state in the world and regionally the most developed nation. When the United States announced "War on Terror" after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre, all the Central Asian states strictly condemned those attacks and then became significant for American regional politics, since their borders attached to Afghanistan. Kazakhstan welcomed the US stance and showed cooperation with the U.S. against its War on Terror. Since 1991, U.S. and Kazakhstan collaborated with each other in several fields, especially for the removal of nuclear arms. This research paper analyzes American relations and policies with Kazakhstan in the domain of politics, economics, and security. The study was based on qualitative method. It finds that American relations with Kazakhstan are focused on the promotion of a democratic form of government, policies regarding oil and gas pipelines and weakening the Kazakh dependence on Russia.

The Role of Energy in Russian Foreign Policy towards Kazakhstan

Energy is a significant factor in the formation of Russian foreign policy, particularly towards Kazakhstan. This book seeks to isolate the role of energy amid a sea of other factors already attended to by mainstream literature in the Anglo-American and Russian traditions. What is missing from the contemporary literature, however, is a well-rounded and thorough scientific approach to the study of energy’s role in foreign policy. To begin filling this gap, the methodology of political science is supplemented here by a multi-disciplinary approach in which significant space is allocated to other areas of study relevant to energy and its repercussions on geographical, technological, legal, and economic issues. The originality of the present work is not intended to be found in its conclusions but in the uniquely scientific methods employed in drawing them. Its fresh analytic approach will be appreciated by students and scholars who are interested in new ways of looking at energy issues. (May 2011)

Iran and Kazakhstan Relations: A Geopolitical Analysis

Kazakhstan needs the short transit route leading to open waters to supply its demands and export oil and gas to international markets. Iran's territorial status in the heart of Eurasia, has offered new capabilities for commerce, industry, and development to this country. But some factors such as the geopolitics of the region, having the second largest resources of energy in the world, and willingness to allow the presence of trans-regional powers with the aim to reduce dependence on Russia and attract foreign investment, has resulted in the presence of these powers in this country and has created serious obstacles for Iran's more effective participation. The main question of this paper is how has Iran benefited from the opportunity to develop relations with Kazakhstan? The authors analyze the most important factors regarding Iran's geopolitical position and status with regards to the development of its relations with Kazakhstan.

Caspian Energy Diplomacy: since the end of the Cold-War

The Caspian region is considered to be one of the next oil and gas frontiers. Along with the re-distribution of political power and the emergence of new balances after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the continuous waves of change also have had significant effects on the prospects for development of energy resources in the region.

THE ROLE OF KAZAKHSTAN IN THE GLOBAL ENERGY SECURITY OF CHINA

Ekonomik ve Sosyal Araştırmalar Dergisi, 2021

This study aims to propose that how Kazakhstan plays a role in the context of China's energy security and in which situations the existing problems such as Kazakhstan's nationalization policy in the energy sector or the lack of mutual trust and rising interdependence in the direction of bilateral energy cooperation could be overcome and new opportunities could be provided. Although Kazakhstan has a very small import ratio in China's energy supply, the reason why it attracts multi-faceted investments from China will be highlighted. This study firstly tries to clarify how China's energy security problem has emerged, and in this direction, and what kind of approaches has been adopted in its foreign policy is probed. Later, these approaches are tested and evaluated in the case of Kazakhstan. It is concluded that on the one hand Kazakhstan is a reliable location in terms of energy security as there are less geopolitical risks when compared to high seas and narrow passages; and on the other hand, China is aware that it cannot benefit enough from the energy sources without first achieving economic stability in the country. In this regard, it is also revealed how non-energy investments in the context of Belt and Road Initiative have a direct relationship with the energy security policy of China.