Kazakhstan: An Island of Stability in a Turbulent Region

Kazakhstan’s stability and predictability has been central to the newly uprgraded status of relations with the European Union. Key to this is Astana’s model of orderly and centralized reforms as well as pursuit of a constructive, multi-vector foreign policy. Looking ahead, however, Kazakhstan faces a number of significant external challenges including declining oil prices and not least the economic and political risks of membership in the Russia-dominated Eurasian Economic Union.