Russian soft power in Kazakhstan

Aidana Paizova; Yermek Chukubayev; Gulnara Dadabayeva; Karlygash Mukhtarova

doi:10.34135/sjps.250105

Authors

Aidana Paizova Department of International Relations and World Economy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)
Yermek Chukubayev Department of International Relations and World Economy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)
Gulnara Dadabayeva Department of International Relations, KIMEP University (Kazakhstan)
Karlygash Mukhtarova Department of International Relations and World Economy, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (Kazakhstan)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34135/sjps.250105

Keywords:

Central Asia, Cooperation programs, cultural diplomacy, Foreign policy, Geopolitics

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the various components of soft power employed by the Russian Federation in shaping inter-state relations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. This article explores methodologies for constructing state rankings through the soft power index, including the criteria underlying the formation of this index. Utilizing statistical data from the USC Center on Public Diplomacy reports from the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Central Asia Initiative, and Brand Finance’s Global Soft Power data, the study assesses Kazakhstan’s and Russia’s standings in the overall ranking and compares the two countries based on key indicators of the soft power index. Evidence for this is provided by Russia’s significant visibility score, which is partly attributed to its inheritance of the Soviet Union’s legacy, whereas other post-Soviet states have lost such an opportunity. It is noted that despite the apparent effectiveness of Russian soft power policy in Kazakhstan—evident in the legislative requirement for Russian language education and its use in state and local government bodies—the legislative formulations can be characterized as a form of soft resistance to soft power.

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