Kazakhstan’s Role in the Development of Relations between Iran and China in Central Asia

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of International Relation, University of Isfahan

2 PhD Student in International Relation, University of Guilan

Abstract

In the last decade the world and regional great powers have started taking more notice of Central Asia. Interests and actions of these international actors have led to the formation of a competitive environment that is referred to as the new great game. The competitive environment results from the performance of internal and external mechanisms in Central Asia. In this competitive environment, Kazakhstan is among the countries that could by use of balanced approach, gain benefits from this competitive environment. Given the importance of Kazakhstan in Central Asia, other countries who play a role in Central Asia should cooperate with Kazakhstan. The aim of this study is to analyze the characteristics of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy and the platforms that this foreign policy can provide to further cooperation between Iran and China in Central Asia. The main question of study is: What are the main features of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy and how can these features affect the expansion of relations between Iran and China in Central Asia? Findings of study show that, realism, non-ideological, and the priority of economy are the main features of Kazakhstan foreign policy since Independence in central Asia. Due to these factors, security, energy and transportation are the three contexts that Kazakhstan could improve in order to further cooperation between Iran and china in central Asia. The research method is descriptive-analytic.

Keywords

References

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Central Eurasia Studies
Volume 10, Issue 2
Autumn & Winter
October 2017
Pages 467-484

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