Neighbours, Allies, Partners : Kazakhstan, Russia and the Discourse of Security

This is the first book to apply discourse analysis to the nation state of Kazakhstan. It offers an original and innovative contribution to the field of International Relations, Critical Security Studies, and Central Asian Studies, providing a unique perspective on the construction of Kazakhstani Identity in relation to Russia.

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.