Kazakhstan: Unfulfilled Promise [Paperback]

Martha Brill Olcott (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0870031880 | ISBN-13: 978-0870031885 | Publication Date: March 15, 2002

Kazakhstan's oil and gas reserves are amongst the largest in the world. At the onset of independence in the 1990s, Kazakhstan's leaders promised that the country's rich natural resources would soon bring economic prosperity, and it appeared that democracy was beginning to take hold in the newly independent state. A decade later, economic reform is mired in widespread corruption. A regime that flirted with democracy is now laying the foundations for family-based, authoritarian rule. This is an examination of the development of this ethnically diverse and strategically vital nation. It should be useful for policymakers, scholars and students. Subjects covered include: state building; democratic reform; ethnic conflict; US policy; post-Soviet transition; economic reform; and energy policy and development.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kazakhstan is the second-largest fragment left over from the implosion of the USSR, next to Russia itself. Its population, however, is quite sparse and split between Slavs and Kazakhs. Given these contours, which include Kazakhstan's principal significance to the outside world--oil--what sort of nation and government have formed there? Such is Olcott's guiding question in her survey of Kazakhstan's decade of independence. Olcott describes how President Nursultan Nazarbayev has stuffed relatives into key positions of the state and business, a by-product of which is rampant corruption. And Nazarbayev preserves the status quo through electoral chicanery. Beneath the plane of a clan-run government run fissures that Olcott describes in great detail: ethnic, linguistic, financial, and secular attitudes in the north versus Islamic ones in the south. Unedifying as its government is, the country will probably not fall apart--at least territorially, predicts Olcott--but investors or scholars interested in the country can rely on her factual report to form their own opinions. Gilbert Taylor
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"...not only shares the lucid insights and depth of a seasoned observer, it greatly enriches literature on post-Soviet transitions." -- Foreign Affairs

"[Olcott]...is one of the most active and sought-after American scholars working on Central Asia." -- Middle East Policy

"[Olcott]...knows more about Kazakhstan than anyone else in the West." -- The New York Review of Books

Outstanding Academic Title, 2002. "This detailed but accessible book will be the definitive work on the newly independent state." -- Choice

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 322 pages
• Publisher: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (March 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0870031880
• ISBN-13: 978-0870031885
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,064,357 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not easy to read but so definitely worth it, July 5, 2004

By 

Amangeldy M. Bogner (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kazakhstan: Unfulfilled Promise (Paperback)

If you no background whatsoever on Kazakhstan then it might be a bit difficult to follow all the events. Having said that, Martha Olcott is by far one of the biggest experts on Kazakhstan and if you want to see the opinion of the best then you should give this book a shot.

24 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars lacks a lot of supporting information, no comparisons ..., January 27, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Kazakhstan: Unfulfilled Promise (Paperback)

except for Nigeria.
For an "analytical work" the book has a few noticable biases and faults :
1. The book asserts certain claims that are either unreasonable or completely out of hand with the reality. For example, in 1991 Alash Party attempted to assasinate!!! Mr. Derbesaliev, who now became head of Kazakh moslems. FYI: Alash party existed in 1917-1918 and fought for independence from Russian Empire and later Communist Russia, however, the leaders of the party were murdered later by bolsheviks. Alash party was revived very recently (with a different agenda) as part of opposition in Kazakhstan. I am not going to touch on opposition here, because the book doesn't directly address the existence of opposition in Kazakhstan (both constructive and ultra-right/left).
2. Ms. Olcott is surprised at the fact there were no uprisings in Kazakhstan during the period of economic and political turmoil in early/mid 90's (actually, there have been none until this very day). I suppose that would in itself tell something about stability in the country. I understand that for her (or perhaps funds that sponsored her) it would have been better if there was an uprising and as a result the country would see "friendly" forces of NATO coming into the country to take care of the rich natural reserves of oil/metals/uranium/you name it, but at the same time install "democracy". I think people do remember the experience of the US in making democracies in post-WWII world; the list of Latin American and Asian countries would be a little overwhelming to be included.
3. Ms. Olcott claims that lately the difference between rich and poor grew immensely (notice, that under communism Gini index is supposed to be as low as possible). Isn't it a natural process to be observed in a country trying to go from communist society to capitalist society? Notice, Gini index in Kazakhstan is 35.4, in the US Gini index is 40.8 (data from CIA World Fact Book). Hence, the spread of incomes between rich and poor is smaller in Kazakhstan than in the US. Would that mean by Ms. Olcott's logic that the US has more issues with the layers of the society than Kazakhstan?
4. Ms. Olcott notices existence of Kazakh nationalism in the fact that Kazakhstan encourages Kazakhs to immigrate into the country. When any EU country gives a right for permanent residence/naturalization to foreign citizens based on the right of birth/ethnicity it is considered normal (of course, Ms. Olcott doesn't mention this in her book). However, Kazakhstan approved the same rights for Kazakhs living abroad, so for Ms. Olcott it is an epitome of Kazakh nationalism and attempts of Kazakh "dictator" Mr. Nazarbayev to make the country mononational.
5. The usual rule that the language of titular nation is always the state language elicits fury from Ms. Olcott when such regulations happen in Kazakhstan.
6. Ms. Olcott essentially equates the terrorism and Islam. For her, the fact that there are more Kazakhs these days who claim to be moslems is worrying and may signal the coming of terrorism. Basically, if the Americans go to church every weekend it is freedom of choice, but if Kazakh goes to a mosque that is a reason to worry. Of course she fails to mention that Kazakhstan doesn't prohibit different mainstream religions. While travelling through Kazakhstan, one can see a lot of Christian Orthodox churches, as well as a few Catholic churches and synagogues, which in Kazakhstan is certainly considered to be perfectly normal.
It seems that this book is biased in presenting the situation in Kazakhstan. I wonder who are the sponsors of this book (sounds like some oil companies could be)...

9 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars deep, heavy book but makes Kaz more understandable, November 21, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Kazakhstan: Unfulfilled Promise (Paperback)

We are adopting a baby from Kaz and wanted a little background on the country. This is not a light read by any means. It gives you a lot of info on the current Kaz president (and his corrupt ways), oil reserves and who's competing for them, ethnic struggles between the Russians and Kakahs, and the apathetic ways of the Kaz voters to name a few of the many topics it addresses. Get it for good background on a variety of important topics vital to Kaz's future success.