Uneasy Alliance: Relations Between Russia and Kazakhstan in the Post-Soviet Era, 1992-1997

by Mikhail Alexandrov

Overview

Based on sources still unavailable in the West, this first English language study of Russian-Kazakh relations provides unorthodox interpretations of many events and introduces new concepts in analysis of contemporary relations. Because political thought found itself a little behind the rapid political change that engulfed the former USSR, a process of adjustment of concepts and development of new approaches is now underway. Examining the complex nature of Russian-Kazakh relations immediately prior to and after the collapse of the USSR, the book examines four major groups of issues in Russian-Kazakh relations: status of ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan; Kazakh and Russian attitudes to post-Soviet integration; bilateral military relations; and Russian and international competition for Kazakhstan's energy resources.

Beginning with research on Gorbachev's time in office, the book analyzes the effect of Moscow's policies on Kazakhstan and the factors which propelled the republic to independence. Next, one sees how Kazakhstan and Russia tried to establish a new, post-imperial basis for their relations during the first six months after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Subsequent chapters move from historical to structural analysis. With his inside knowledge of the mechanisms of Russian foreign policy formulation, the author pays particular attention to such controversial problems as Kazakh policy in the creation of a nation and its effects on Kazakhstan's Russian population; the concept of Eurasian Union, Custom's Union, and other integration initiatives supported by Kazakhstan; Kazakh nuclear disarmament; the Caspian Pipeline Consortium; and the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313309656
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/30/1999
Series:	Contributions to the Study of World History , #66
Pages:	344
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

MIKHAIL ALEXANDROV works as a consultant for government and business organizations in Australia./e Originally from Russia, as a member of the Evaluation and Planning Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he participated in developing new approaches to foreign policy which led to the abolishment of ideological confrontation between East and West.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Emergence of Independent Kazakhstan
Formulation of Russian Policy Towards Kazakhstan
Problem of Ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan
Russian and Kazakh Approaches to CIS Integration
Relations Between Russia and Kazakhstan in the Military and Strategic Spheres
Russia and International Competition for Kazakhstan's Energy
Resources
Appendix
Index

Editorial Reviews

Discusses Russian-Kazakh relations after the collapse of the USSR, focusing on the period from 1992 to 1997. Topics include a background of the relationship between the two countries; the evolution of Russian political thinking on issues of its relations with Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the first year after the break up; and what the author deems the four major problems in Russian-Kazakh relations. An appendix offers several tables of relevant statistics and maps. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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