Russia's Relations with Kazakhstan

Yelena Nikolayevna Zabortseva is Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Government and International Relations at Sydney University, Australia.

• 1. Introduction: Central Asia: Great Game or Graveyard? 2. Rethinking the stages of Russia-Kazakhstan relations 3. Historical foundations and political significance of security and migration trends in Russia-Kazakhstan relations 4. Stage 1.1991–1994: Strategic military arsenal and - the ‘fifth column’? 5. Stage 2.1995–1999: Economic interests and state-building 6. Stage 3.2000–2004: Increased security concerns and the thaw in the bilateral relationship 7. Stage 4. 2005–2012. Intensification of bilateral cooperation 8. Stage 5. 2013-2015 Bilateral relations in the era of new international challenges and controversies 9. Conclusion: W(h)ither regionalism in a new international system?

"Russia's Relations with Kazakhstan offers a comprehensive analysis of the promise and peril underlying this complex relationship. This study is a major contribution to the sparse literature on international relations in the post-Soviet space, providing a detailed, nuanced approach that will be indispensable to students of the region. Zabortseva's work makes clear that the connections between Moscow and Astana will be key to the future of both states, and vital to the stability of the whole of Central Eurasia."Reuel R. Hanks, Oklahoma State University, USA"Yelena Zabortseva has produced a timely study of a major aspect of the international politics of what is likely to become an increasingly important part of the world. Her nuanced, theoretically grounded analysis of Russo-Kazakh relations should be read not only by all who are interested in the new 'great game' in Central Asia, but by those interested in the future course of international geopolitics more generally. This is a fine achievement from a promising young scholar."Graeme Gill, University of Sydney, Australia"This book provides a new perspective of one of Eurasia's most critical relationships. The introductory overviews and examples of Russia's foreign policy toward Kazakhstan will be useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students alike."Sally Nikoline Cummings, University of St Andrews, UK