The Future of Kazakhstan

The main question for both Kazakhs and the international community concerning Kazakhstan’s future is whether the country will achieve economic prosperity in the coming decades. Particularly with its enormous oil and natural gas resources, the country has tremendous potential for economic development. Theoretically, at least, Kazakhstan could become one of Asia’s leading economic powers. The country also could become the most eco- nomically advanced among the now independent countries that formerly were republics within the Soviet Union.

Only the people of Kazakhstan have the power to determine their future. Under Soviet control, the Kazakhs spent seven decades under one-party Communist rule. In 1990, when a multiparty democracy was introduced, Kazakhs chose their current president to lead them into the twenty-first century. Tired of Moscow’s political domination, they elected their own man, a former Communist, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who, more than a decade later, still serves as president.

Opposition to the present government is practically nonexistent, however, since it would not be tolerated. This situation in Kazakhstan is something that has occurred in nearly all former Soviet republics. Before elections, country leaders promised the separation of powers and the establish- ment of an American type of democracy. Once the former Communist Party members achieved victor y, however, things changed rapidly. They concentrated on introducing constitutional changes by “popular” referendum that expanded presidential powers and limited the power of the legislature (parliament). Once they gained additional consti- tutional power by reducing checks-and-balances by other branches of government, they began to silence other political parties or watchdog groups. At the same time, the families of those in power often became involved in extensive corruption and various scandals. In Kazakhstan, for example, the presi- dent has been unable to explain (in a satisfactory manner) the source of the funds in an $80 million account in a Swiss bank with which he is connected.

Corruption on all levels of government — from local politicians to the highest circles of power — is an everyday occurrence in postcommunist countries. But there are other Communist-era related problems as well. Communist gov- ernments centrally planned their countries’ economies. This resulted in the newly emerged independent former Soviet republics having inadequate networks of highways, railroads, and other vital aspects of infrastructure, such as power lines and pipelines. Also, with so much of the country’s capital resources being siphoned off by government leaders, few funds are available to upgrade the infrastructure to Western levels.

Kazakhs must understand that only radical changes in some elements of their lifestyle can bring them wanted pros- perity. One of these elements is the elimination of the growing apathy toward political participation among the Kazakhstan’s population. To change the political conditions and create a different climate, voters’ active engagement is necessary.

There is another important emotional issue that must be resolved among Kazakhs: they must begin concentrating on the future, rather than reliving the past. Even to an outsider, it is obvious that many ethnic Kazakhs and ethnic Russians still have the burden of the Soviet Union on their minds. To Kazakhs, Russia represents another form of imperialistic force that ruled their homelands for many decades. Governmental policies during the 1990s proved that Kazakhs desperately want to establish their independence from Russia in all possible ways. At the same time, a vast number of Kazakhstan’s Russians did not want to accept the fact that they were now living in a different country. The first step toward joint life in Kazakhstan should be the formation of a bilingual society where the major- ity of people speak both the Kazakh and Russian languages. By knowing and understanding different cultures, we develop respect toward them; rejection almost always is a product of ignorance. As a result of prejudice and discrimination exhib- ited by both Russians and Kazakhs, several million Russians left Kazakhstan between 1991 and 2002. A great number of them were well-educated people, thereby creating a “brain drain” that deprived the country of some of its best human resources.
As we know, people are a country’s most important capital. Educated, hard-working people are essential to the economic development of any nation. The Kazakhs waited for so long to have a country of their own. Now that they have achieved their precious independence, they must make the most of the opportunity.

Part of Kazakhstan’s future is located deep below the surface. Proven oil and natural gas reserves in the country’s western oblasts are enormous. Western multinational companies are more than willing to cooperate with Kazakhs and establish joint ventures for further research and exploration. It can bring thousands of new jobs to young people and lower the high unemployment rate in Kazakhstan.

Few Americans consider themselves to be experts in the physical, historical, and cultural geography of the former Soviet Union. Kazakhstan, to many people, is little more than one of the region’s many “stan”-ending countries in which some type of conflict is occurring. Certainly the country is not a primary tourist destination. Most people simply do not know much about Central Asia.

Yet Kazakhstan is a peaceful and life-loving country that has much to offer. Kazakhs should invite outsiders to visit and enjoy their country more often. They need to show others that their country is more than just a former nuclear testing range, a space center, or oil fields. It is a country with much to recom- mend it to the visitor in search of an interesting and unique culture and destination.

KAZAKHSTAN’S PROVINCES AND OTHER CITIES part 2

Between 1938 and 1997, Taraz experienced another name change, to Dzhambul, but in January 1997 the government decided to change it back. Dzhambul was the name of a famous Kazakh poet. Although Taraz is today mainly an industrial city with heavy air pollution and other environmental problems, it also has some interesting cultural landmarks. There are several different millennium-old mausoleums that show the preserved heritage of Central Asia.

East Kazakhstan oblast has two important cities, both of which are located on the Irtysh River. Ust-Kamenogorsk, settled as a Russian outpost in 1720, is the oblast capital. The second city, Semipalatinsk (Semey), also was settled as a Russian outpost in 1718. Both communities first served as strategic fortified trading posts between the Russian Empire and China. Since the nineteenth century the region has gained importance as a mining center, particularly for its rich deposits of gold.

Both cities have around 300,000 inhabitants, many of whom represent the leading industrial, cultural, and educa- tional leaders of East Kazakhstan. Until the 1990s the Russian ethnic group represented the majority. During recent years, however, many Russians have left the region and the number of ethnic Kazakhs has increased, especially in Semipalatinsk. The infamous Soviet nuclear testing center was located not far from the city. Even though nuclear testing was discontinued, citizens continue to pay a high price as a result of the pollution from the testing. The incidence of certain types of cancer and other dangerous illnesses is very high here.

The Pavlodar oblast borders Siberia. Ethnically, the oblast has a population that is almost equally divided between Russians and Kazakhs. It also is the site of considerable economic development and future potential. The oblast borders Russian Siberia and owes much of its development to geographic location and the natural environment. The capital of the Pavlodar oblast also is Pavlodar, a city of about 300,000. Although it was founded in 1720 as yet another Russian fort, the settlement did not develop into a large city until the twentieth century. During the Soviet era, Pavlodar underwent rapid industrial development and economic growth that stim- ulated immigration. The landscape is dominantly Russian. In fact, the city still has a considerable amount of Soviet iconography (images), including a statue of Lenin. In 1978, a large oil refinery was built, creating many new jobs. Development slowed drastically during the 1990s, however, resulting in many factories closing their doors and rising unemployment.

The North Kazakhstan oblast’s capital is Petropavlovsk. It was founded in 1752 as another in a long line of Russian military stations. For nearly 150 years, the town was of little significance. Then, in 1896, the Trans-Siberian railway that connects Moscow and the Far East port of Vladivostok reached Petropavlovsk. With the arrival of the railroad, the city’s importance increased immediately. It soon grew into the most important and modern center of North Kazakhstan, known for its gold mining as well as its railroad link. Today, Petropavlovsk is a thriving city of over 200,000.

Northwestern Kazakhstan’s oblasts experienced rapid economic development in the decades following the beginning of Khrushchev’s Virgin Lands agricultural development project. The oblast of Kostanay, and its capital city of the same name (population 230,000), owe much of their progress to Khrushchev’s plan. In addition to being a center of agricultural production, the oblast has important railway connections and large iron deposits in the local steppes around Rudnyi.

Founded in 1869, Aktobe grew to become the capital of the Aktiubinsk oblast that also is situated in northwestern Kazakhstan. Today Aktobe has 260,000 inhabitants. Major industries of Aktiubinsk oblast are chromium and machin- ery products.

The most western oblast, as it name says, is West Kazakh- stan. Its capital, Uralsk (population 200,000), is located where the steppes touch the right bank (western shore) of the Ural River that flows from the Ural Mountains to the Caspian Sea. It is one of the oldest Russian-built cities in Kazakhstan and Russian influence can be seen everywhere. The city also is host of the oldest theater in Kazakhstan. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, groups of Cossacks moved into the area and settled. Traditionally, West Kazakhstan’s economy has been based on agricultural production. Recently, however, the discovery of large oil deposits in Karachaganak have given a huge boost to the region’s importance.

Atyrau is potentially the richest oblast in Kazakhstan. It covers a large area bordering the northeastern part of the Caspian Sea. Huge deposits of oil and natural gas are located both offshore (the Kashgan field) and onshore (near the city of Tengiz) as well. The city of Atyrau (population 150,000) was built in the seventeenth century. Its primary early func- tion was as a fishing village on the Caspian Sea. Until 1992, the city was named Guryev in honor of Mikhail Guryev, the person who first established a permanent settlement at the site. Although fishing and fish processing continue to contribute to the city’s economy, the oil industry is now the most important economic activity.

Aktau, a city also of 150,000 inhabitants, is best known for fishing and the production of high-quality Caspian caviar (sturgeon eggs). The city is the capital of Mangistau oblast, which also has deposits of oil. Some of the major oil drilling locations are near Uzen and Tenge.

Finally, Kyzyl-Orda (population 160,000) is a capital of the oblast that bears the same name. This south-central Kazakh city, located east of the Aral Sea, is one of the country’s former capitals. From 1925 to 1929, Kyzyl-Orda was the capital of the Kazakhstan Soviet Republic, before the seat of government was moved to Almaty. The oblast is less developed economically than most others. Water from the Syr Darya supports irrigated agriculture, primarily of cotton. And oil deposits have been found near Kumkol, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Kyzyl-Orda.

KAZAKHSTAN’S PROVINCES AND OTHER CITIES part 1

Karaganda oblast is the heart of Kazakhstan’s most impor- tant mining region. Some of the country’s largest mines are located in this province that is home to some 1.5 million people. In 1999, the ethnic structure was almost equally divided among Russians and Kazakhs. Karaganda oblast got its name from the town of the same name that was built in the middle of the nineteenth century as a coal mining center. The city of Karaganda grew to become the second-largest urban center in the country with around 450,000 inhabitants. Industrial development and the emergence of surrounding mining settlements spurred the rapid urban growth that has occurred there since the 1930s.

Today, Karaganda also is the administrative and educa- tional center of the oblast. It is home to the provincial capital, and also has both university, polytechnic, and medical institutes. The city also operates the only German-language theater in Central Asia. The space center Baikonur, near the town of Leninsk, is located in the western portion of Karaganda oblast. It was the most important space center in the Soviet Union. Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, launched his trip from Baikonur. Today, Russia leases a space center from Kazakhstan for $125 million.

Shymkent has a somewhat different history than do the previously mentioned cities. Its importance reaches back many centuries. Located close to the border with Uzbekistan, Shymkent was an important early administrative and eco- nomic center. The city, located on caravan trade routes, was already an important settlement long before the Russians came to the region.

Since the twelfth century, when it was first built, Shymkent served as a fort for local khaganates. In 1864, the city was occu- pied by Russian forces and became part of the Russian Empire. During the next 150 years it would become a modern city with over 350,000 inhabitants. Today, it is the third-largest urban center in Kazakhstan.

One factor contributing to the city’s development is its location on a major railroad that connects the Siberian provinces and with the Central Asian countries of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Development of a mining industry also contributed to Shymkent’s growth and its large number of Russian and other European residents. It was one of the USSR’s leading lead and zinc producers. Unfortunately, industry also was responsible for extensive environmental pollution. And since independence, the region’s economy has suffered a decline resulting in a very high unemployment rate. Shymkent also has, among other attractions, museums and research insti- tutes dedicated to the famous Karakul sheep that originated in the region.

Taraz is located in south-central Kazakhstan. The city, also with about 350,000 inhabitants, is the capital and largest city of Zhambyl oblast. Its history and function is not much different than that of neighboring Shymkent. Taraz appeared in history around the sixth century as one of the towns on the Silk Road between China and Europe. Since then, it changed rulers on numerous occasions until the Russians took over in 1864 and, as they did with other regional centers, renamed it Aulie-Ata. During the twentieth centur y, the importance of Taraz increased since it was located on the pre v iously mentioned r ailroad linking Siber ia w ith Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.