Kazakhstan and the Rise of Middle Powers in Central Asia

On August 29, 2024, the American Foreign Policy Council’s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute hosted a webinar featuring CACI Research and Publication Director Dr. Svante Cornell and Senior Fellow of MIND Institute at Maqsut Narikbayev University Dr. Miras Zhiyenbayev, moderated by CACI Chairman Dr. Fred Starr as they delve into the pivotal role of Kazakhstan as a Middle Power in Central Asia.
The discussion explore how Kazakhstan has leveraged its economic strength and strategic foreign policy to assert itself as a Middle Power, influencing regional dynamics and international relations amidst great power competition in the region. The panel will explore the consequences of this development for Central Asia's security architecture, particularly in the absence of a collective security mechanism. Additionally, the panel will discuss Kazakhstan's multilateral initiatives and international engagements that have solidified its status, as well as the domestic reforms supporting its new role and the challenges that remain.
Related publication: "Kazakhstan and the Rise of Middle Powers in Central Asia" (Svante Cornell, CACI Analyst, 2024) - bit.ly/4dIRX4h