Kazakhstan is a sparsely populated, multiethnic society. It hosted some 20,000 refugees at the end of 2000, most of whom were Chechens from the Russian Federation. A new land ownership law came into effect in February 2001, allowing individuals to buy land for small holdings, industrial or building purposes. All land had been owned by the state. HIV infection is on the rise because of the proliferation of intravenous drug use.

As part of a growing trend towards authoritarianism throughout Central Asia, Kazakhstan's parliament in 2000 overwhelmingly voted to grant President Nursultan Nazarbayev lifelong powers and privileges. Nazarbayev was initially elected in 1991. He dissolved parliament and called for a referendum in 1995 to extend his term until 2000. The country is struggling to establish a cohesive national identity, develop its vast energy resources and strengthen relations with neighbouring states and other foreign powers. In recent months there has been growing evidence of an emerging opposition movement which Nazarbayev is attempting to silence. Senior opposition figures have been arrested.

The indigenous Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century were rarely united as a single nation. Conquered by Russia in the 18th century, Kazakhstan became a Soviet republic in 1936. During the 1950's and 1960's agricultural "virgin lands" programme, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russian, but also some deported nationalities) changed the ethnic mix, resulting in non-Kazakhs outnumbering native Kazakhs. Following the demise of the Soviet Union and independence, many of the newcomers to the country have chosen to emigrate.

Kazakhstan has the potential to be a world-class oil exporter. An oil pipeline linking Kazakhstan and the Russian Black Sea coast officially opened in November 2001. Financed by a consortium including the American, Russian and Kazakh governments, the pipeline could provide 20 million tonnes of oil per year by 2002. American companies have invested more than one billion dollars in the project. Kazakhstan's economy grew sharply in 2000, aided by increased prices on world markets for its leading exports of oil, metals and grain. Despite its resources and foreign investment, serious economic hardship persists for the majority of the population.

Links to other sources

Interactive Central Asia Resource Project

US Committee for Refugees

US State Department Background Notes