The European Union's Soft Power Dynamics in Kazakhstan

Abstract

The collapse of the USSR in 1991 presented the European Union with an opportunity to extend its influence into the heart of Eurasia, particularly in Kazakhstan. theoretical framework by Joseph Nye on soft power, the study underlines into three key sources regarding soft power– culture, foreign policy and political values. Through an exploration of the EU's involment with Republic of Kazakhstan, the study provides valuable insights into the multifaceted mechanisms employed by the EU to exert influence on a strategic partner in the Central Asia over the past three decades.

Keywords

• European Union
• Kazakhstan
• Central Asia
• soft power
• public diplomacy

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24. Interview 1: Conducted with a retired French diplomat in Astana on July 5, 2023.
25. Interview 2: Conducted with a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in Almaty on 28 June, 2023
26. Interview 3: Conducted with a researcher from The Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KazISS) in Astana on 27 June, 2023.