Heart Of Eurasia Research Articles

Foreign Policy of Germany towards Kazakhstan

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large number of newly formed states appeared on the geopolitical map of the world, some of which are located in Central Asia. As one of the largest and most influential countries in Europe, Germany sought to establish strong economic, political and cultural ties with these countries. The author pays attention to the stages of development of bilateral relations from the early 90s to the present.Aim. The aim of this study is to identify key aspects of German foreign policy in the region, focusing on relations with Kazakhstan.Tasks. Study the main stages of the development of diplomatic relations between Germany and Kazakhstan. Identify the current state of relations between Germany and Kazakhstan. Explore possible expansion of economic ties and prospects for future cooperation. Show the importance of studying the foreign policy of Germany in relation to Kazakhstan for the Russian Federation.Methods. The research methodology is based on historical analysis, which helped to identify the stages of development of international relations between the two states. The comparative analysis defines the differences in the foreign policy line of Germany towards Kazakhstan at different stages. Regular summit meetings were the objects of event analysis.Results. By examining historical context, economic partnerships, and geopolitical considerations, it is possible to investigate the dynamics shaping German engagement in Central Asia.Conclusions. The genesis of the development of interstate relations was the collapse of the USSR, which served to form sovereign states in the post-Soviet space. The development of bilateral relations is characterized by several stages: some of them were characterized by stagnation, others, by an increase in the attention of Germany to Kazakhstan. The beginning of 2022 served to intensify Germany’s foreign policy in the region. At the present stage, Germany uses a multi-pronged approach that includes diplomatic, economic, cultural and educational components. Germany’s foreign policy in the region is aimed at protecting its national interests. Secondly, the partnership with Kazakhstan is a symbol of Germany’s shared foreign policy goals, emphasizing the importance of cooperation, dialogue and joint development efforts in the heart of Eurasia.

The European Union's Soft Power Dynamics in Kazakhstan

The collapse of the USSR in 1991 presented the European Union with an opportunity to extend its influence into the heart of Eurasia, particularly in Kazakhstan. theoretical framework by Joseph Nye on soft power, the study underlines into three key sources regarding soft power– culture, foreign policy and political values. Through an exploration of the EU's involment with Republic of Kazakhstan, the study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted mechanisms employed by the EU to exert influence on a strategic partner in the Central Asia over the past three decades.

Some Aspects of the Evolution of Political Elites in the Countries of Eurasia

The second decade of the XXI century in the Eurasian space was marked by new socio-economic and political developments. Significant changes have taken place in the political landscape of Eurasia. They were largely due to the fact that the political processes in which the Eurasian states that appeared on the map of Eurasia after the collapse of the USSR began to change their character. New political actors have entered the arena of political activity, gradually replacing people from the former party nomenclature. The political elite was now formed not from graduates of the Soviet higher school, but mainly from those who received education in higher educational institutions of Great Britain, Germany, China, the USA, Turkey, France, Japan, etc. The consequence was the reorientation of such politicians, political scientists, administrative workers from the traditional values of Euro-Asian peoples to liberal pseudo-traditions characteristic of for the realities of transatlantic states (“hedonism for the body and narcissism for the soul”).Researchers note the generational change of political figures taking place in Central Asia today, the change in the composition of political elites, their positions in relation to neighboring countries and states that they consider as investors and allies. In the conditions of the SVO in Ukraine and the ongoing sanctions pressure on Russia, Russophobic sentiments have significantly increased both among the ruling circles and among ordinary residents of the Eurasian states. The media are especially trying to emphasize and develop this. The article provides examples of recent events in a number of EAEU countries and neighboring Eurasian states. Attention is drawn to the need for a wider dissemination of historical information about political and other events of modern and modern times in the Great Steppe. The effectiveness of the application of the principles and methods of economic, political, and cultural interaction of various state entities accumulated over the centuries in the heart of Eurasia is emphasized. Attention is drawn to the effectiveness of using education as a means of soft power to ensure the sustainable development of the states of the region. The prospects for the change of political generations, the need for “rejuvenation” of political elites are briefly described.Aim. To highlight significant aspects and perspectives of the evolution of political elites in Central Asian countries.Tasks. To introduce into scientific circulation the results of a comparative analysis of the formation and activity of political elites of new state formations in Eurasia at the present stage.Methods. Comparative-analytical method, systematic approach, transdisciplinary approach.Results. The changes in the political landscape of Eurasia and their impact on the activities of the political elites of the Central Asian countries are characterized. New elements of the state of the regional integration process are highlighted. The results of the use of education as a means of soft power in the change of political generations in the states of the region are shown.Conclusions. In modern conditions, a significant factor in the formation of a new political landscape on the Eurasian continent is the emergence of new centers of power and the change of political generations of the ruling ones. It is necessary to expand the use of historical experience in the implementation of vocational education to include young people in the management system in the Eurasian states.

KAZAKH LITERATURE OF THE INDEPENDENCE ERA IN THE AZERBAIJANI LANGUAGE

The article describes the features of Kazakh-Azerbaijani inter-literary relations in the post-Soviet period, and also analyzes the works of Kazakh authors and folklore works of the Kazakh people translated into Azerbaijani. The paper notes the high intensification of inter-literary contacts between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Such an expansion of interpersonal relationships among creative figures is, of course, determined by the general state of interstate relations. 
 In the post-Soviet period, Turkic-speaking writers, representatives of various national literatures began to feel their inner involvement in the general Turkic processes with particular clarity due to deep historical and socio-political changes and the strengthening of creative contacts. For example, such works translated into Azerbaijani as "Turkestan", "And me, you, death, lull me to sleep" ("Olum, mane agi de") Magzhan Zhumabayeva, "Kazakhstan's Way", "The Heart of Eurasia" by Nursultan Nazarbayev, "The Clay Book" by Olzhas Suleimenov, "When the Wolves Howled" by Sabit Dosanov, "Idikut" by Akhmetzhan Ashiri were highly appreciated among Azerbaijani readers. "Alash Arystary" in the Azerbaijani language shows that translators in their creative activity go not only beyond the national geographic framework, but expand the internal boundaries of the national artistic worldview.
 The works of the Kazakh genius confirm that the historical and cultural ties of the Kazakh and Azerbaijani peoples go back centuries. In particular, in the "Words of Edification", in the poems "Iskander", "Masut", "Tales of Azim" traces of centuries-old oriental wisdom are found. In the era of independence, the fame of classical Kazakh writers went far beyond the borders of their country. Many of them have become internationally significant personalities. So Abai as a universal cultural phenomenon at the turn of the century became an essential fact of world culture. The interrelation and literary contacts between writers of Turkic speaking countries have given rise to well-known Turkologists to talk about the concept of a single "Turkic speaking literature" and the need to accelerate the creation of a "new era".

INDUSTRY CLUSTER ECONOMY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF TOURISM)

The purpose of study is to study cluster organization of management on example of tourism in context of problem of creating an economy of an industry cluster. The research method is a methodological analysis of problem of creating clusters in Kazakhstan tourism in context of problems of its organization and individualization. Modern tourism has become one of spheres of national economy and traditional business. Tourism has an impact on development of national economy, providing employment and additional jobs. In sectoral structure of national economy, tourism has a strong multiplier effect. Tourism influences development of transport, hospitality industry, public catering, and national crafts. Expanding scope of employment of population, tourism contributes to solving social problems of society, improving standard of living of people, quality of human potential. By developing tourism, country's economy can get not only these positive effects. But also effect of inflow of foreign currency and thus a positive impact on balance of payments and total exports of country. Kazakhstan has a diverse raw material base for development of tourism. The raw material base of tourism is represented by tourist and recreational resources. The development of tourism and contribution to GNP of Kazakhstan is characterized by a low level. Currently, an external factor–COVID-19-has a negative impact. The introduction of sanitary quarantine on a global scale, closure of national borders has led to stagnation of both external and internal tourist flows. As a result, tourism industry is in crisis. The creation of clusters contributes to competitiveness of Kazakhstan's tourism. The role of clusters is to develop partnerships between state and business. In Concept of development of tourism industry of Kazakhstan until 2023 it is expected to create six cultural tourism clusters:Astana - heart of Eurasia,Almaty – free cultural zone of Kazakhstan, Pearl of Altai, Revival of Great Silk Road, the Caspian gates,the Unity of nature and nomadic culture. Building a cluster is not simply a matter of adding up production and services. The tourism cluster creates its own Economy, which has an intersectoral nature of product design, preparation for production of new products.

Constructing a Eurasian higher education region: “Points of correspondence” between Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union and China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia

ABSTRACT The Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) intersect and overlap in Central Asia at the heart of Eurasia. Whereas the literature has commonly focused on the economic aspects of these major regional policy initiatives, efforts to create a common Eurasian higher education space through these regionalisms have barely been studied. In response, this paper compares the development of Russian and Chinese led visions for Eurasian higher education regionalism in Central Asia and the extent to which these constructions overlap. The paper also sheds lights on the perspectives of Central Asian states by investigating how these countries are approaching these efforts to construct a Eurasian higher education region. The conceptual framework brings together higher education regionalism with overlapping regionalism and takes a policy-oriented methodological approach. The paper introduces the new term of “points of correspondence” based on language used in both Russian and Chinese policy discourse to explain how constructions of a Eurasian higher education region can overlap without duplicating or flowing into each other. “Points of correspondence” emphasizes neither competition nor collaboration but rather the ongoing pursuit to find ideas and policy tools that best fit one another.

ВОЗВРАЩЕНИЕ К ВОПРОСУ О РОЛИ КЕЛЬТЕМИНАРСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ В ИСТОРИИ ЕВРАЗИИ ЭПОХИ НЕОЛИТА - РАННЕЙ БРОНЗЫ

Understanding the issues of the historical development of Eurasia that have accumulated over many years is impossible without the equal participation of all scientific disciplines. Due to the specificity of its methods, archaeology seems to recede into the background, giving way to the natural sciences (genetics) and the most accurate of the humanities, namely linguistics. This article is nothing more than another attempt, using traditional archaeological methods, to draw attention once again to archaeological cultures located on a vast territory in the very heart of Eurasia. First of all, we are talking about the Kelteminar cultural and historical community, its relationships with neighboring communities, participation in the genesis of the Yamnaya and especially Fatyanovo cultures. Inevitably, this analysis touches upon the problems of the Proto-Indo-European (PIE) language community, its localization and areal connections.

Evolutionary investment network and the emerging energy power in Central Asia: From the perspective of cross-border mergers and acquisitions

Central Asia is emerging as an important pole of global economic and political power, thanks to its unique location at the heart of Eurasia and its abundance in energy reserves. This study explores the social power change in Central Asia from the perspective of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) by using the social network method. The main results are as follows: (1) The complexity of the energy M&A network has significantly decreased after the financial crisis in 2008. In the meantime, energy M&A became an important way to enhance energy power for buyer countries. Betweenness centrality is becoming the most significant factor affecting energy power, yet the effect of out-degree is weakening. (2) The community underwent multifaceted restructuring, which reflected the shift of energy power in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is the most powerful country in the energy sector in Central Asia. In addition, East Asian countries/regions, represented by China, are actively enhancing their energy power. (3) Different M&A modes reflect various M&A motivations of countries in the energy sector. In the future, more efforts should be made to promote the establishment of a pragmatic and efficient multilateral energy cooperation mechanism and strength the cooperation of the economy and energy finance when China participates in the energy market in Central Asia.

Official Development Assistance in Japan's Strategy in Central Asia

The article analyzes the official development aid (ODA) as a tool for ensuring Japan’s interests in Central Asia. The author puts forward an idea that ODA reflects the complex nature of Japan’s foreign policy which is a combination of a strategies based on national interests, efforts at implementation of liberal values and seeking common Asian identity. The research starts from the brief overview of history of the ODA and then proceeds to the coverage of Japan’s ODA towards Central Asia to demonstrate how the evolution of Japan’s political priorities manifested itself in the country’s assistance policy. The author uses quantitative and qualitative analysis of ODA to Central Asia as well as content analysis of the key documents on diplomacy and ODA. The research then focuses on the main directions of assistance and studies how they relate to Japan’s foreign policy goals. Further attention is given to the role Japan plays in the region, by assessing her position among the main donors of Central Asia as well as the significance of its aid from the point of view of economic development of the region, ODA’s security role and Japan’s efforts at preserving the cultural heritage of the region. The author comes to the conclusion that realism-based objectives such as getting access to the natural resources of the region, securing its geopolitical stance in the heart of Eurasia and ensuring the support for Japan’s bid to the UN Security Council seat by five Central Asian states dominate Japan’s ODA policy. It is also influenced by external factors, such as US-Japan military alliance and Japan’s geopolitical rivalry with China. At the same time, much of Japan’s efforts are directed at liberal goals such as promoting democracy in the region with Japan being a role model for democratization, supporting modernization and market economy. Assisting economic development and helping settle security issues with an emphasis on human security projects demonstrate not only Japan’s desire to boost its positive image in the region but also enhance its international reputation and its vision of Central Asia as a ground for cooperation with other countries. The author comes to the conclusion that cultural ODA is directed at objects related to shared history, mainly at preservation of the Buddhist heritage which Japan sees as a foundation for common identity and which underlies its connections to the Silk Road.

Genetic structure and forensic characteristics of the Kyrgyz population from Kizilsu Kirghiz autonomous prefecture based on autosomal DIPs.

Living in the heart of Eurasia, the Kyrgyz ethnic minority have a complex human evolutionary and migration history. However, the genetic architecture of the Kyrgyz population has not been fully explored. We studied 526 Kyrgyz samples from Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang using the Investigator® DIPplex kit. All loci followed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The combined power of discrimination (CPD) and combined power of paternity exclusion (CPE) was 0.9999999999988 and 0.9936, respectively. Compared with 90 reference populations, five InDels (HLD99, HLD81, HLD64, HLD118, and HLD111) have the potential to distinguish the Kyrgyz/Uyghur/Kazak population from other East Asian populations. Our results suggested a close genetic relationship between the Kyrgyz population and the Uyghur/Kazak populations, followed by South Asian populations. This was in accordance with the inland migration hypothesis or modern human migration influenced by warfare. Overall, this system can be used as a powerful tool in forensic individual identification and as a complementary tool in paternity cases and biogeographic ancestry analyses.

Petropolitics and Pipeline Diplomacy in Central Asia: Can India Afford to Wait in the Wings?

The fight for hegemony in Central Asia has existed for ages. Strategically placed between two nuclear powers—Russia and China—and geopolitically located at the heart of Eurasia, Central Asia has always remained in global limelight. Even after the disintegration of the USSR, the geopolitical importance of Central Asia never waned down, instead emerged as a grand chessboard for regional and extra-regional player for the immense opportunities it has offered in the form of widely untapped natural resources and geostrategic leverages. Importantly, it has emerged as the latest geological landscape for the energy crunch countries as potentially new and non-OPEC source of oil and natural gas. In the quest for energy security and diversity of supply sources by the energy consumers, the heartland region has witnessed a new great game in the scramble for resources. This accentuated struggle for oil and energy in the region has further led to aggressive foreign policy formulations and strategic calculation by countries like the United States, China, European Union, Japan, Israel, Iran, Pakistan and India, to which many now call as the New Great Game for not just controlling but administering the energy resources of the region. The bottom line of the New Great Game unlike the previous version is essentially played out around petropolitics and pipeline diplomacy. It is in this context this research article makes a modest attempt to examine the energy factor in the geopolitics of Central Asia and tries to figure out the position of India in the epic quest for oil in the traditional bastion of Russia and the new grand chessboard of China and the United States.

Review of International Conferences of April — May 2019 held by the Institute of World History RAS

The spring of 2019 was fruitful in the sense of various academic events in which the stuff of the Institute of World History (RAS) played an active role. The review is devoted to the key international conferences of April — May 2019, held by the Institute, or organized with its direct participation. Among them the following: “75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Central-Eastern and Northern Europe from Nazism”; “Napoleon’s Époque: History and Image”; “Studying the History of Africa: People, Problems, Sources. 90th Anniversary of Africa’s First Research Program”; “In the Heart of Eurasia: Russia and Kazakhstan at Historic Crossroads”. Particular attention is paid to the conference held by the Center for African Studies (Institute of World History, RAS) and dedicated to the problems of source criticism and historiography of Africa.

Moving Pictures

Abstract After briefly exploring various conceptions of the Europe-Asia divide, the paper observes how one panoramic image of Tobol’sk – a Russian town in the heart of Eurasia – traveled through several early modern manuscripts. While it is well known that the Dutchman Nicolas Witsen had a hand in the production of the western European texts that featured the Tobol’sk panorama and that the Tobol’sk panorama Witsen reproduced was a copy of one by the Siberian cartographer S.U. Remezov, this paper wonders if amateurish panoramas by Nicolaas Witsen may have inspired Remezov’s Tobol’sk panorama. While questions about this panorama’s history and textual “travels” remain, this preliminary inquiry and speculation remind us to be attentive to unexpected dynamics and modes of early modern transmission.

Understanding foreign policy strategies of Kazakhstan: a case study of the landlocked and transcontinental country

Examining Kazakhstan’s foreign policy through the lens of its position as the largest landlocked, and transcontinental, country in the world, the paper presents a multidimensional analysis of the unique soft power strategy adopted recently by this nation in promoting its various international initiatives in its region. In doing so, the paper attempts to understand the implications of Kazakhstan’s distinctive geopolitical setting at the heart of Eurasia for regional integration and security-building initiatives that have been proposed and actively supported by this emerging nation. The paper focuses on investigating key political and socioeconomic aspects of the country’s location at the intersection of Europe and Asia and analyses whether a symbiotic relationship exists between Kazakhstan’s multi-vectored foreign policy and the wide range of its international initiatives aiming to promote economic development, partnership and peaceful coexistence between various nations in the region. The key findings and generalizations of the research will facilitate better understanding of the implications of landlocked geography for the direction of foreign policy, using concrete examples and manifestations of political decisions made in the area.

Оңтүстік Қaзaқстaн aймaғындa экологиялық туризмнің дaму мәселелері

Nowadays, the ecological tourism sector is promoting effective development on the economy. Today, ecological tourism is one of the areas of modern tourism and it has spread throughout the world in the last decades. Kazakhstan has are great opportunities for development of ecological tourism. The basis of its numerous natural, historical monuments, unique natural conditions and landscapes in the heart of Eurasia. Evidence of ecotourism is known, that is, the interest of Organization of the United Nations, the world wildlife Fund, international Union for conservation of nature and natural resources to the ecotourism further development in the further development of eco-tourism. The result of the study and questionnaires which were conducted in the countries Germany, UK, France, South Korea and Japan have determined a high interest of foreign citizens to ecological tour in Kazakhstan. Our country looking for ways to develop tourism destinations in the practice of foreign countries, as their countries above us in this field. South Kazakhstan is the most beautiful and largest region in the country. It is different with a rich very cultural heritage, warm weather and natural scenery. The work purpose: study problems of effective use of recreational resources and development of ecological tourism in southern Kazakhstan. Duties of work: historical aspects recreational resource and consideration theoretical foundations in development of ecological tourism. The article is devoted to the features of the development of ecological tourism in the South Kazakhstan Region. Prerequisites of its development were formulated in the region, difficulties of the development of ecotourism were characterized and possible ways to overcome them were considered. The current state of touristic recreational ecological potential of South Kazakhstan is being analyzed. The basic tendencies of development of the tourism industry were investigated, that ecotourism can be seen precisely the balance, which can provide jobs and stable high incomes and save intact wildlife. In regions such as the South Kazakhstan, ecotourism can help nature protection, growth of employment and socio-economic development. The conclusions about the perspectives of the ecological tourism in protected areas were made. &nbsp

The Water-Energy-Climate Nexus Under International Law: A Central Asian Perspective

Water, energy, and climate change are intrinsically related to each other but are nonetheless subject to different international legal regimes. The fragmented nature of water, energy, and climate governance represents a challenge for the sustainable management of resources in the energy and water landscape of the 21st century. Regulatory choices in one field can potentially undermine the policy objectives pursued in the other fields. Promoting conventional and unconventional energy production for energy security purposes increases pressure on the availability of fresh water resources and contributes to climate change. Climate change exacerbates the scarcity of water resources, which leads to increasing tensions relating to water access and energy supply in certain regions of the world. Water- and energy-related tensions are particularly acute in Central Asia. Because of its large energy reserves and strategic location in the heart of Eurasia, the Central Asian region is of significant importance for world energy markets. In addition to fossil energy, Central Asia holds large water resources. However, energy and water resources are unevenly distributed in the region, which creates a need for close transboundary cooperation in order to ensure equitable and sustainable access to these vital resources. Despite the mutual benefits of cooperation in Central Asia, governments are reluctant to rely on their neighbors for their water and energy security. States’ refusal to cooperate generates high energy, social, economic, and environmental costs, and poses a serious threat to peace and stability in a region of particular geopolitical relevance. External legal mechanisms are needed to overcome the present political obstacles to transboundary cooperation in resources management. In an effort to overcome the fragmented nature of water, energy, and climate law, this Article examines how international law—in particular the principle of transboundary cooperation—can contribute to addressing the resource management challenges in Central Asia. Additionally, this analysis aims to contribute to the development of international law on transboundary resources management. Based on the Central Asian case study, this Article argues in favor of an integrated approach to water-energy-climate regulation in order to achieve water-energy-climate security in a mutually reinforcing way.

Caspian Sea: Issues & Prospects

In the past fifteen years the Caspian Sea as well as Central Asia has entered the sphere of western scholars, politicians, and businessmen. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991 and the emergence of several newly independent states, the veil of obscurity and isolation has somehow lifted from this region and from this body of water in the heart of Eurasia. Nonetheless, the general knowledge about this largest inland sea in the world remains rudimentary.

Nation Branding in Central Asia: A New Campaign to Present Ideas about the State and the Nation

Relaxing in a luxury hotel room in Paris, world travellers are exposed to TV commercials for Kazakhstan, a ‘land of democracy’ located in the ‘Heart of Eurasia’. Similar advertisements have been fe...