As is known, Kazakhstan gained sovereignty in 1991, a year after the adoption of the corresponding declaration. According to political scientist Eduard Poletaev, this began the process of gradually expanding the horizon of opportunities for citizens of the republic.
“Simultaneously occurring, foreign countries began to recognize Kazakhstan quite quickly. There were practically no questions about diplomatic refusal. From that moment on, our country became a full-fledged subject of international law. Let me emphasize that if the country is not recognized, at best we can talk about receiving some kind of humanitarian assistance from the international community. The importance of recognition is enormous. otherwise,there is no legal status,investments do not come,prospects are very limited. And this gives you the opportunity to conduct your own economic activity and attract investments,which was especially critically important at that time. Then billions of dollars were invested in oil projects, and Kazakhstan was able to cope with the critical challenges of the dashing 90s,” the speaker explained.
At the same time, he continues, the “dismantling” of such a huge and complex system as the USSR heated up the political, socio-economic, and moral-psychological situation along the entire perimeter. Though, even in the light of such events, the young republic managed to maintain peace, realize its chance and gain newfound advantages without bloodshed.
“Moreover, the period that we lived independently proved the viability of the state. the state exists not only as someone there recognized its existence or someone announced its appearance,but because over time it is indeed able to effectively carry out state functions on its territory.Independence and sovereignty are essentially the basic idea of the existence of a state as a subject. Independence is at the core of any ideology of any country. Yes, in order to protect its interests, national security, and economic development, a country can unite with others and create interstate integration unions. This is also a privilege of independence. Kazakhstan, for example, was one of the founders of the CSTO, the Eurasian Economic Union. But when Kazakhstan made the decision to create and join these organizations, it took into account, first of all, its interests as a sovereign state and saw certain benefits from such integration processes.”
According to the political scientist, it is extremely important to recognize the fact that sovereignty is not only about rights, but also about the responsibilities assigned to both the country and its inhabitants. Society must contribute to the further movement of our big “ship” forward, improve its political culture, literacy, and apply certain intellectual forces for the development of New Kazakhstan.
“In general, most countries in the world celebrate independence day once a year; it is usually tied either to the date of the founding of the state or to the moment of its separation from other countries. But there is a certain difference in semantic content. Specifically for Kazakhstan, the importance of celebrating this day is that it serves as a kind of unifying link between expectations and implementation, an annual moment of summing up, especially since in our country this holiday is just close to the end of the year. It is also a presentation of the correctness of the chosen path for the development of our country. In this sense, the holiday should play a certain consolidating role. There are about two thousand ethnic groups in the world, but not all of them have the opportunity to develop and maintain a viable state. We got the opportunity,” says Poletaev.
The expert believes that the republic deservedly received such “luxury”; it “suffered” for it, breaking through a number of obstacles. Especially at first, when the pace of development was set and the foundations of management were laid. it happens that a state “runs out of steam” at the very start, demonstrating itself as failed and unviable. Instead of moving towards a bright future, it is drowning in civil, inter-ethnic and inter-religious wars. our relatively stable position today was worth titanic work in the past, because at the dawn of building state institutions, forming foreign and domestic policies, much was created from scratch, there was a shortage of professional personnel, we had to learn on the fly, adopting the experience of others and, of course, making mistakes. However, the work done has borne fruit:
“In any case, Kazakhstan is a modern state, competitive, with good indicators in world well-being rankings. Is 33 years a lot or a little? Many countries have not been able to get back on their feet for 100 years. Kazakhstan, meanwhile, is ambitious, positions itself as a leader in Central Asia, wants to be at the forefront of positive changes – this is good. These are healthy ambitions.this is an indicator that the country is moving from banal survival to more complex tasks. Gradually, Kazakhstan gained a certain authority, which was reflected in the chairmanship of various international organizations and initiatives,” Eduard Poletaev is sure.
A separate topic is the achievement of interethnic unity in the ethnic diversity of Kazakhstan:
“I remember Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s speech at the Kurultai in March of this year. he then called on Kazakhstanis to set aside national interests and defend sovereignty. He said that this is relevant now, because in the world they are already beginning to appeal to the rule of the strong. He called the most important task the preservation and enhancement of the achievements of our independence. There are attempts to split society in the context of the facts wars that are currently being waged. Therefore, we must remember that our future depends on how integral our society is, sharing common ideals. At the same time, sovereignty allows us to guarantee the rights and freedoms of every kazakhstani citizen, regardless of religious or ethnic affiliation.”
Summarizing, Eduard Poletaev added that the common main goal is to make Kazakhstan a prosperous country, safe, with a high standard of living. But not everything is given at once; there is still a lot of work to be done. This means it’s time to learn to appreciate what you already have. Look at your homeland kindly and help it become better and better every year.
What are the key factors that contributed to Kazakhstan’s accomplished transition to sovereignty in the 1990s?
Title: The Evolution of Kazakhstan’s Sovereignty: A Conversation with Political Scientist Eduard Poletaev
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Eduard! It’s great to have you here today. Let’s dive right in. Kazakhstan declared its sovereignty in 1991, marking a significant moment in its history. Can you elaborate on how this declaration impacted the country’s place in the international community?
Eduard Poletaev: Thank you for having me! The declaration of sovereignty was pivotal for Kazakhstan. It not onyl established a framework for self-governance but also quickly facilitated recognition from foreign nations. This swift acknowledgment meant that Kazakhstan became a full-fledged subject of international law, allowing us to engage diplomatically on the global stage.
Time.news editor: That’s engaging! You mentioned how vital recognition is for a newly independent country. Can you explain what could happen if a country isn’t recognized internationally?
Eduard Poletaev: Certainly. Without international recognition, a country may struggle to receive assistance and investment from other nations. It can find itself in a precarious situation where its legal status is ambiguous. For Kazakhstan, this meant that, during the tumultuous ‘90s, we could attract billions of dollars in investments, notably in the oil sector, which was crucial for stabilizing our economy.
Time.news Editor: Speaking of the ‘90s, it was quite a challenging period for many former Soviet states. How did Kazakhstan manage to navigate these difficulties while maintaining peace?
Eduard Poletaev: It was indeed a complicated time. The dismantling of the USSR created a volatile socio-political landscape.Though,Kazakhstan was remarkably blessed. The leadership focused on maintaining stability and fostering dialog within society. While many faced challenges, we were able to realize the prospect for growth without bloodshed. this was a testament to our political maturity.
Time.news Editor: That’s impressive. Over the years, Kazakhstan has joined several international organizations like the CSTO and the Eurasian Economic Union. How do these partnerships align with the country’s vision of independence and sovereignty?
Eduard Poletaev: Joining organizations is indeed a complex decision. Kazakhstan’s approach has been centered on balancing our national interests with the benefits that come from regional integration. While independence is basic, engaging with others for economic development and national security has made us stronger.It reflects a elegant understanding of sovereignty—not just as isolation, but as strategic engagement.
Time.news Editor: It sounds like independence comes with both rights and responsibilities. what responsibilities do you think the citizens of Kazakhstan carry in this context?
eduard Poletaev: Absolutely. Sovereignty involves not only rights but also duties. The citizens are crucial in furthering our nation’s development. We must work together to improve our political culture and civic literacy. It takes collective effort to steer our “ship” toward a prosperous future, where every individual’s contribution matters.
Time.news Editor: Very enlightening! As Kazakhstan celebrates its independence, what do you believe are the key areas for enhancement and growth moving forward?
Eduard Poletaev: We must continue to enhance our political institutions, ensure justice and transparency, and foster economic diversity beyond oil. Education and technological innovation are also critical. we envision a “New Kazakhstan” where every citizen feels empowered to contribute to our nation’s democratic process and global standing.
Time.news Editor: Thank you, Eduard! Yoru insights into Kazakhstan’s journey and the path ahead are invaluable. It’s always a pleasure to discuss such important topics with you!
Eduard Poletaev: Thank you! It’s been a pleasure to share these thoughts with you. Here’s to the future of Kazakhstan!
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End of Interview
This engaging dialogue encapsulates the important themes around Kazakhstan’s sovereignty, the complexities of international presence, and the responsibilities of its citizens toward nation-building.