Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Republic of Kazakhstan
Respublika Kazakhstan
A Teachers Guide
Compiled by the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
http://ceres.georgetown.edu
1
Facts at a Glance
3-6
History of Kazakhstan
7-9
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11-12
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Additional Resources
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Kunzhamila Sakhain
Interior of a Kazakh Yurt
Location: Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural (Zhayyq) River in
eastern-most Europe
Area: Total: 2,724,900 sq km
Country comparison to the world: 9
Land: 2,699,700 sq km
Water: 25,200 sq km
Area - Comparative: Slightly less than four times the size of Texas
Terrain: vast flat steppe extending from the Volga in the west to the Altai Mountains in the east
and from the plains of western Siberia in the north to oases and deserts of Central Asia in the
south
Elevation extremes: Lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
Highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m
Natural Resources: major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome
ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium
Environment - Current Issues: Radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former
defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans
and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers that flowed
into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful
layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind
and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of
agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices
Population: 17,948,816 (July 2014 est.); Country comparison to the world: 64
Urbanization: urban population: 53.6% of total population (2011)
Life Expectancy at Birth: total population: 70.24 years
Country comparison to the world: 150
male: 64.98 years
female: 75.17 years (2014 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Kazakh (Qazaq) 63.1%, Russian
23.7%, Uzbek 2.8%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Uighur 1.4%,
Tatar 1.3%, German 1.1%, other 4.5% (2009 census)
Religions: Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%,
Protestant 2%, other 7%ce
response to the crisis, Kazakhstan's government devalued the tenge (Kazakhstan's currency) to
stabilize market pressures and injected $19 billion in economic stimulus. Rising commodity
prices have helped revive Kazakhstan's economy, which registered 7% growth in 2010. Barring a
dramatic decline in oil prices, strong growth is expected to continue in 2011. Despite solid
macroeconomic indicators, the government realizes that its economy suffers from an
overreliance on oil and extractive industries, the so-called "Dutch disease." In response,
Kazakhstan has embarked on an ambitious diversification program, aimed at developing targeted
sectors like transport, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, petrochemicals and food processing.
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $243.6 billion (2013 est.). Country comparison to the world:
53
GDP - Real Growth Rate: 5% (2013 est.). Country comparison to the world: 57
GDP - Per Capita (PPP): $14,100 (2013 est.). Country comparison to the world: 96
GDP - Composition by Sector: agriculture: 5.2%, industry: 37.9% services: 56.9% (2011 est.)
Labor Force: 8.611 million (2010 est.); Country comparison to the world: 54
Agriculture - Products: Grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock
Industries: Oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold,
silver, phosphates, sulfur, uranium, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery,
electric motors, construction materials
Current Account Balance: $1.965 billion (2013 est.). Country comparison to the world: 41
Exports - Commodities: oil and oil products 59%, ferrous metals 19%, chemicals 5%,
machinery 3%
Exports - Partners: China 19.3%, Italy 18.1%, Netherlands 8.8%, France 6.6%, Switzerland
5.8%, Austria 5.8% (2012)
Imports - Partners: China 28%, Ukraine 10.9%, Germany 8.5%, US 7.9% (2012)
Debt - External: $131.3 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
Exchange Rates: tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 151.8 (2013 est.)
Military Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 2 years
Military expenditures: 1.21% of GDP (2012). Country comparison to the world: 84
History of Kazakhstan
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Text taken directly from Department of State Website: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/kztoc.html
Virgin Lands campaign of Soviet premier Nikita S. Khrushchev (in office 1956-64). Under that
program, huge tracts of Kazak grazing land were put to the plow for the cultivation of wheat and
other cereal grains. Still more settlers came in the late 1960s and 1970s, when the government
paid handsome bonuses to workers participating in a program to relocate Soviet industry close to
the extensive coal, gas, and oil deposits of Central Asia. One consequence of the decimation of
the nomadic Kazak population and the in-migration of non-Kazaks was that by the 1970s
Kazakstan was the only Soviet republic in which the eponymous nationality was a minority in its
own republic.
Independence: Text below from:
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/313790/Kazakhstan
Nursultan Nazarbaey
Nazarbayev was the son of Kazakh
peasants. He graduated from a technical
school in Dneprodzerzhinsk. He worked as
a steelworker and engineer at the
Karaganda plant off and on from 1960 to
1977. He joined the Communist Party of
the Soviet Union (CPSU) in 1962 and rose
through the ranks, becoming a full member
of the Kazakhstan Politburo in 1979.
Having long decried Moscows economic
exploitation of Central Asia, he carefully
nurtured Kazakhstans independence and in
1991 became president of nation. In April
2011, running against token opposition,
Nazarbayev was elected to another term
with more than 95 percent of the vote.
International observers deemed the election
unfair, noting widespread irregularities.
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top
ic/407143/Nursultan-Nazarbayev)
2010 February - A court overturns an earlier ruling that banned the media from publishing
criticism of President Nazarbayev's son-in-law Timur Kulibayev. The OSCE had criticised the
ban.
2010 May - Parliament approves a bill granting more powers to President Nazarbayev, granting
him the title of "leader of the nation" and immunity from prosecution.
2010 July - A customs union between Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan comes into force after
Belarus ratifies a key customs code.
2011 February - President Nazarbayev calls early presidential election, after a planned
referendum on allowing him to stay on unopposed until 2020 is ruled unconstitutional.
2011 April - President Nazarbayev wins re-election in a poll boycotted by the opposition.
2011 December - Clashes between striking workers and police in western oil town of Zhanaozen
leave 16 people dead. The government declares a state of emergency.
2012 January - Government ends state of emergency in Zhanaozen, allowing locals to vote in
parliamentary elections. Independent observers deemed the elections undemocratic. No true
oppostion parties overcome the 7% threshold.
Kazakh Culture
Text and Pictures Taken Directly from: http://www.advantour.com/kazakhstan/cuisine.htm
Kazakh national cuisine reflects the nature of its people, its
history, customs and traditions. Since old times hospitality
has been the most distinctive feature of the Kazakh people.
A guest is always given a special welcome and offered the
place of honor.
He or she is first treated to kumys (fermented mare's milk),
shubat (fermented camel's milk) or airan (fermented cow's
milk), then to tea with milk or cream, baursaks (fried dough
balls), raisins, irimshik (dried cheese balls), kurt (dried
Kumyz
cheese and whey).
Appetizers of horse or mutton meat follow (kazy, shuzhuk,
zhal, zhaya, sur-yet, karta, kabyrga) always served with flat bread.
Kazakhs eat at a low table called 'dastarkhan' and the most popular dish has always been the
national meat dish 'beshkarmak' (five fingers because of the manner in which it is eaten). It is
made of large chunks of boiled meat which the host cuts and serves to each guest according to
their importance: the pelvic bones and shin to the elderly guests of honor, the brisket to the son
or daughter-in-law, the cervical vertebra to girls and so on.
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12
The Kazakh Dombra
you. I will trade my fur coat and hat, which are just right, for your holey, too-warm ones, so that
you may be more comfortable on your journey." Aldar Kose thought about the bai's offer, hiding
his smile behind his hand. "Sir, you are generous, but I cannot accept the trade," he said. "This
coat was enchanted and given to me by my father, whom I dearly miss."
Now the bai could not stand not to get what he wanted, and so wanted the coat even more. He
said, "I see it is difficult for you to let me help you. Take my coat and hat, and my horse, which
rides like the wind. The breeze will cool you."
Aldar Kose hesitated a moment. "On the one hand, I should honor my father's warning, though I
don't recall what it was. On the other hand, he always did encourage generosity in others, so I
should allow you to help me." The bai could no longer hide his impatience to own the magic
coat. "Then you cannot refuse my generous offer. Take the fur coat, hat, horse and this bag of
gold for your father's wisdom, give me that coat and consider yourself fortunate in the trade!"
Well, quick as a flash, Aldar Kose surrendered that coat of holes and the tired old horse to the
bai. He put on the fur coat and hat, took the bag of gold, and mounted his new horse. The bai
now sat on the old horse, wearing the holey coat and looking very pleased with himself. As
Aldar Kose turned to ride away, he paused. "Aha! I've just remembered my father's warning," he
said. "The magic in the coat works only for me. Good-bye!"
Akshalova, Bakhytgul (ed.). Kazakh traditions and ways Almaty : "Dyke-Press", 2002
Robbins, Christopher. Apples are from Kazakhstan : the land that disappeared. Ashland, OH :
Atlas Books, 2008
Martin, Virginia. Law and custom in the steppe : the Kazakhs of the Middle Horde and Russian
colonialism in the nineteenth century. Richmond, Surrey : Curzon, 2001
Privratsky, Bruce G. Muslim Turkistan : Kazak religion and collective memory. Richmond,
Surrey : Curzon Press, 2001
Svanberg, Ingvar. Contemporary Kazaks : cultural and social perspectives. Richmond : Curzon,
1999
Weller, R. Charles. Rethinking Kazakh and Central Asian nationhood : a challenge to prevailing
western views. Los Angeles : Asia Research Associates, 2006
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