ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides insights into the different trends in bilateral relations between Russia and Kazakhstan. It examines how relations between Russia and Kazakhstan have developed following the collapse of the USSR in 1991 to the present day. The book addresses several aspects of the foreign policies of Russia and Kazakhstan also pose questions in terms of their impact on trends in bilateral relations. Contemporary public policy trends in Kazakhstan already echo the concerns of international experts, particularly as they relate to the Republic's investment climate. Kazakhstan's population and political groups are also concerned that China has a particular interest in both its resources and its territories. Contemporary issues of independent Kazakhstan's nation-building processes can hardly be separated from the history of Kazakhstan's ethnic-building. Kazakhstan's identity-building processes are complicated by the Republic's diverse population.
