КАЗАХСТАН
Kazakhstan
ГЕОГРАФИЯ
Geography
Карта Казахстана/Map of Kazakhstan
Географическое Положение
Geographical Placement
Kazakhstan is a large and beautiful country that hosts a myriad of topographies, climates, and natural life. At 1,820 by 960 miles, the country is the largest in Central Asia as well as the 9th largest in the world. During the era of Soviet control, it was not considered part of Central Asia; however, today it is categorized with other Central Asian states due to the myriad of similarities to other Central Asian states. The capital of Kazakstan is Almaty, which is located in the Northwest region of the country. The capital has been known many other names such as Nur-Sultan, Aqumola, and Tselinograd.
Климат и Экология
Climate and Environment
The climate of Kazakhstan is relatively dry, with temperatures that range to different extremes during the parts of the year. During the winter, the weather can reach low averages of roughly -2/-3 degrees Fahrenheit, especially in the North and Central regions. In the South temperatures are more moderate, hovering slightly below freezing.
The natural world of Kazakhstan is mostly inhabited by plains, grasses, and animals. There is a lack of densely forested areas, which means that antelope and elk are the primary animals seen on the plains. Other animals, such as snow leopards, wolves, or bears tend to live closer to the hills, where there is more cover. Due to issues with pollution and other industrial footprints, the fish population and fishing economies have greatly declined. However, at least two nature reserves, Naurzumsky and Kurgaldzhinsk, protect the wetlands of the Steppes. These wetlands are imperative for many species of birds, grasses, and other biological wetlands inhabitants.
In 2020, Kazakhstan met its target of 3% of their energy consumption coming from renewables. By 2030, they plan to source 15% of their energy through renewables, not including large hydropower, their current currently?most utilized form of renewable energy. A drastic shift from producing petroleum to producing renewables will affect their role in the global economy. However, Kazakhstan also has huge solar and wind energy potentials. In fact, by 2060, Kazakhstan plans to reach carbon neutrality, which will have huge implications for the economy of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, and the entire world.
Some of the Kazakhstan Steppe, restored after decades of ecological exploitation
Photograph of Saryarka - steppes and lakes of northern Kazakhstan
ЭКОНОМИКА
Economics
Казахстанский тенге: Национальная валюта Казахстана
Kazakhstani tenge: The national currency of Kazakhstan
Казатомпром, крупнейшая в мире компания по добыче урана, находится в Казахстане
Kazatomprom, the world’s largest uranium-producing company, headquartered in Kazakhstan
Географическое Положение
Geographical Placement
Согласно отчёту МВФ (Международный Валютный Фонд) за 2023 год, реальный ВВП (валовой внутренний продукт) Казахстана составляет около 652,6 млрд. долларов США. Казахстан имеет самый высокий ВВП среди всех стран Центральной Азии, на его часть приходится более 60% всего реального ВВП Центральной Азии. Казахстан входит в топ-50% растущих экономик мира с реальным темпом роста ВВП в 4,3%. Казахстанский тенге - национальная валюта Казахстана, заменившая российский рубль в 1993 году. Обменный курс доллара США к тенге составляет 1 : 475,117873.
According to the 2023 IMF report, the real GDP of Kazakhstan is about 652.6 billion U.S. dollars. Kazakhstan has the highest GDP of any Central Asian country, accounting for more than 60% of all of Central Asia’s real GDP. Kazakhstan is in the top 50% of growing economies in the world with a real growth rate of GDP of 4.3%. The Kazakhstani tenge is the national currency of Kazakhstan, which replaced the Russian ruble in 1993. The exchange rate from the US dollar to KZT is 1 : 475.117873.
Основными экспортируемыми товарами являются сырая нефть, золото, медь, железные сплавы и природный газ. Тремя главными огромными партнёерами по экспорту являются Китай (13%), Италия (12%) и Россия (10%). Основными импортируемыми товарами являются упакованные лекарства, природный газ, автомобили, радиовещательное оборудование и самолёты. Главными партнёерами по импорту являются Россия (34%) и Китай (24%). Казахстан занимает первое место в мире по добыче урана и участвует в других стадиях ядерного топливного цикла. Правительство публично обсуждает идею строительства коммерческой атомной электростанции.
Their major exports are crude petroleum, gold, copper, iron alloys, and natural gas. Their top three export partners are China (13%), Italy (12%), and Russia (10%). Their main imports are packaged medicines, natural gas, cars, broadcasting equipment, and aircraft. Their top import partners are Russia (34%) and China (24%). Kazakhstan ranks first in the world in uranium mining and is involved in other stages of the nuclear fuel cycle. The government has been publicly discussing the idea of building a commercial nuclear plant.
Нефть составляет две трети экспорта страны и приносит половину всех государственных доходов. После террористических актов 11 сентября на территории Америкиу Центральная Азия и Казахстан, в частности, взяли на себя новую ведущую роль глобального поставщика нефти. К сожалению, сильная зависимость Казахстана от углеводородного сектора делает его экономику уязвимой к колебаниям цен на нефть. В результате глобального перехода от использования углеводородов к возобновляемым источникам энергии политическая и экономическая стабильность Казахстана зависит от плавного перехода от нефти к производству возобновляемых источников энергии.
Oil accounts for two-thirds of the country's exports and brings in half of all government revenues. After the September 11th terrorist attacks on America, Central Asia, and Kazakhstan in particular, took a new leading role as a global oil supplier. Unfortunately, Kazakhstan's overdependence on the hydrocarbon sector leaves its economy vulnerable to oil price fluctuations. In the wake of a global shift from the use of hydrocarbons to renewable sources of energy, Kazakhstan’s political and economic stability rests on a smooth transition from oil production to renewables production.
ПОЛИТИКА
Politics
Климат и Экология
Climate and Environment
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is the current president of Kazakhstan, elected in 2019, and re-elected in 2022. The Republic of Kazakhstan uses a presidential system of government. The president is elected for a seven-year term. There are three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches. Kazakhstan’s government is dominated by a strong executiv power, although in recent years the legislature has been granted additional checks on power through various amendments, thereby limiting the scope of the executive’s strong authority.
Kazakhstan’s first post-independence constitution was adopted in 1993. This constitution and newer versions contain many democratic elements, such as the guarantee of freedoms of speech, religion, movement, ability to own property, and ability to form trade unions.
The president is the head of the executive, the commander-in-chief of the military, and the country’s foreign relations ambassador. The president appoints the ministers of the cabinet, which are then confirmed by the legislature. The legislature is divided into two chambers: the Senate and the Assembly (Mazhilis).
In 2012, the Development Strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2050 was presented, which aims to develop a stronger state, economy, and place Kazakhstan in the top 30 developed countries in the world. Since gaining their independence from the USSR, Kazkahstan has taken on a stance of state-based nationalism. For instance, voting-districts are selected as to preserve titular ethnic dominance in parliamentary elections. Additionally, in 2012 former President Nazarbayev called for the gradual development of Kazakh as the dominant language “not at the expense of Russian speakers.” Compared to other post-Soviet countries, Kazakhstan still widely uses Russian in business and government interactions.
In January 2022, a series of mass protests took place throughout major cities in Kazakhstan following a sharp increase in the price of oil. Police intervened, using tear gas and rubber bullets on their citizens, eventually calling in Russian-led troops to stop what President Tokayev called a “coup.” This event is considered the most violent use of government force against citizens in Kazakhstan’s recent history.
Kazakhstan is party to the Eurasian Economic Union, which includes Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, and Belarus, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes these same countries and Tajikistan. They are also a member of the World Trade Union, which includes 164 countries. China and Kazakhstan also have a close relationship, due in part to their strong trading-partnership.
Current president of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Discussion of Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, Astana, 2014
Demonstrators gather in February 2022 in Almaty seeking justice for the January 2022 victims
РЕЛИГИЯ
Religion
Mural in Almaty with Tengrian motifs
Mausoleum of Ahmad Yasawi in Turkistan
Grand Mosque in Astana; The largest mosque in Central Asia can accommodate 30,000 people
Географическое Положение
Geographical Placement
Prior to the spread of Islam, Tengrism and Zoroastrianism were the predominant indigenous religions of Kazakhstan. Tengrism originated in the Eurasian steppe among nomadic groups, while Zoroastrianism originated in Persia. These are some of the oldest religions in the world, following beliefs such as shamanism, animism, and ancestor worship. Many modern Kazakhstani people who identify with other faiths still unknowingly adhere to traditions from these religions, such as smoking the house with adyraspan to ward off evil spirits.
Today, Islam is the most commonly practiced religion in Kazakhstan. Islam first appeared in Kazakhstan in the 10th century during the reign of the Turkic Karakhanid Khanate over a large portion of Central Asia. Islam was given the status of state religion during this time and was able to spread quickly among both the sedentary and nomadic populations of Kazakhstan. Ahmad Yasawi, a famous poet from the 11th century, greatly contributed to the spread of Islam among the southern nomadic populations of Kazakhstan. A mausoleum in Turkistan, Kazakhstan was built in the 14th century in his honor and still stands today.
During the Soviet Union, Soviet states followed an unofficial policy of state atheism, which contributed to a decline in religious education and practices. Although religion was never officially banned, religious institutions were heavily defunded and religious practices were discouraged. Religious practicioners were often targeted politically as “enemies of the state.” After the fall of the Soviet Union, many people began reviving old religious practices, particularly those existing pre-Russian colonialism. The revival of religious practices in Kazakhstan follows a trend of national identity building, which has been taking place in many post-Soviet states for over three decades. According to a national census from 2019, over 92% of Kazakhstan’s population reports identifying with a religious faith. In 2020, 68% of the population self-identified as Sunni Muslim, 24% as Eastern Orthodox, and 4% as agnostic. Some religious minorities include Shia Islam, Judaism, and Christian Protestantism.
The Committee for Religious Affairs is the governmental body which handles religious issues. As stated in their constitution, Kazakhstan is a secular state, but allows freedom of religion. However, this freedom only extends to registered religious groups or ‘traditional’ groups. The five ‘traditional’ religious groups are Sunni Islam, Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism, Judaism, and, most recently, Lutheranism. Unfortunately, religious minorities and unregistered groups have reported instances of discrimination from local and even federal law enforcement, particularly Shia Muslims.
РАБОТА СТУДЕНТОВ
Student Work
Казахская Архитектура
Kazakh Architecture
By Stephanie Cortez
Казахстан расположен в Центральной Азии и представляет собой увлекательное сочетание традиционной и современной архитектуры, вдохновлённой тенгрианскими кочевниками, исламскими и европейскими элементами. Одним из самых знаковых архитектурных сооружений Казахстана является Хан Шатыр. Хан Шатыр представляет собой гигантское шатровое сооружение, в котором размещаются торговый центр и развлекательный комплекс. Еще одна известная достопримечательность – башня Байтерек в Астане. Башня Байтерек — футуристическая башня, олицетворяющая мифическое древо жизни. Здесь есть потрясающие мавзолеи и мечети, демонстрирующие богатое исламское наследие Казахстана. Архитектура Казахстана поистине уникальна и прекрасна.
Kazakhstan is located in Central Asia and has a fascinating blend of traditional and modern architecture that is inspired by Tengrian nomadic, Islamic, and European elements. One of the most iconic architectural buildings in Kazakhstan is the Khan Shatyr. Khan Shatryr is a giant tent-like structure that houses a shopping center and entertainment complex. Another famous landmark is the Bayterek Tower in Astana. The Bayterek Tower is a futuristic tower that represents a mythical tree of life. Some stunning mausoleums and mosques showcase the rich Islamic heritage of Kazakhstan. The architecture in Kazakhstan is truly unique and beautiful.
ИСТОЧНИКИ
Resources