Neighbours, Allies, Partners

Kazakhstan was the last country to declare independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. How has Kazakhstan constructed a relationship with Russia since then? How has Kazakhstan constructed its identity in relation to Russia? What discursive practices have come into play in order to avoid conflict? Focusing on official discourse, Neighbours, Allies, Partners argues that the relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia has been constructed in order to render conflict impossible. It analyses how political elites constructed the state's identity, represented security threats, and represented Russia. It investigates the implications of these representations regarding the security of Kazakhstan, and the country's relations with Russia. In doing so it illustrates the significance of the construction of identities, representations and meanings in relationships between states.