Abstract. The author analyzed the diplomatic practice of the Kazakh Khanate and independent Kazakhstan. Based on the works Kussainova A. and Gusarova A. try to describe the main diplomatic actors – the khans, sultans, biys, diplomats and the First President of sovereign Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev – which in their foreign-policy activity were used such diplomatic methods as the conclusion of inter-dynasty marriages, the use of interstate and intrastate conflicts, searching and finding allies, representation of amanats in the past and establish economical and political agreements, held multi-vector policy in nowadays.
Kazakhstan’s diplomacy has deep historical roots. “Steppe diplomacy dressed in tails” – this phrase emphasizes both the old and the young nature of the Kazakh diplomacy [1, p. 27]. Since the second half of the XV century on the stage of history goes independent Kazakh feudal-patriarchal state.
Diplomatic practice of the Kazakh Khanate not initially relied extensively on the forms and methods of the rich arsenal of predecessors – the ancient Turks and the Golden Horde [2, p. 66]. Mainly dominated power solutions to international conflicts, which are followed sometimes by diplomatic means of gaining military allies and negotiations of belligerent sides about prisoners or making peace with certain conditions.
In traditional society of the Kazakhs, the supreme authority was Kurultay, which considered all the important issues, including foreign policy. The composition of this assembly, regularity and place it convenes in Article 31 of the code “Zheti Zhargy” reported the following: “... Khan, as well as all the sultans, the elders, rulers gathered in autumn births in one place, in the middle of the steppe, to talk about people’s affairs“ [3, p. 41].
Between Kurultay supreme overlord was Khan. He had the right to declare war and peace, to hold negotiations with other countries. The Khans have sufficient authority to foreign policy initiatives, but the most fundamental issues were resolved collectively with the representatives of the nobility and elders. Therefore, Khan was still not the sole bearer of power, since shared it with the sultans, and later with biys. In history there were names such distinguished statesmen as Tole bi, Kazybek bi, Aiteke bi. Sultans and biys are known to have been educated from childhood literacy teaching, Arabic, Chagatai, less Persian and Russian, basis of usual and Islamic law. Practically all of the sultans and many biys owned military knowledge and skills. Diplomatic skill they are gained by experience, first by participating in ceremonial events, and eventually in the form of implementation of more complex functions, including a stay at the amanats. Kazakh Khanate has international legal personality and external relations, although it did not have special body. With the conquest of Tashkent and Turkestan in these cities there were fixed residences, palaces, where even in the absence of the Khan under the trustees have worked state officials, including focused on international affairs.
It was mentioned about the amanats, who played a special role in the international relations of the Kazakh Khanate. Amanat Institute is one of the oldest institutions – the transfer of children of noble people to another State for bail enforcement of concluded treaties. Several researches have been interpreted as a phenomenon of hostage-taking, which is not entirely consistent with its true value. Hostage involves seizing human threat to his life or health in the event of non-compliance, and finally eliminates the replacement of one person by another [4, p. 184].
The governors in the sign of reconciliation exchanged their children temporarily or permanently. Son of recent enemy kept at the court and was brought together with the children of the governor. The governor, who gave his son trying to prevent new conflicts and thus ensure the life of his own son.
Resorting to the Amanat Institute, nomadic Asian rulers sought to achieve significant benefits or solve political problems their habitual diplomatic means. Amanat Institute was used in new times between China and Kazakhstan, Russia and Kazakhstan. It was a unique way of solving various foreign policy issues – the recognition of the rights to the throne till the expansion territory.
In addition, the hostages executed to some extent a function Consulate of reporting, introduced the governor to the situation in the country and the court, taking care of the visiting compatriots, met and accompanied them and fought for their interests.
Apart from the diplomatic aspects, this institute had some negative aspects to the holders of the hostages. Long-term residence in a foreign country made it possible to enter into the course of its political life, to obtain the necessary information. It is no accident the strongest argument of opponents of the hostage-taking Institute was that the hostages and the ambassadors were suspected of spying. If held hostage in the suburbs, here they bring up to his countrymen usually come here for trade exchange, as well as ambassadors. Therefore, the rulers sought to have constant contact with their representatives in a foreign country, that is, the hostages. Amanat Institute acted for centuries because of its optimality, along with other diplomatic institutions.
Prominent role in the diplomatic practice of the Kazakh Khanate played inter-dynasty marriages. Revealing the effect of this level of influence, it is emphasized that communication between the rulers facilitated through kinship relations: the official level contacts complemented by informal, increasing cause for mutual visits, circle of loyal people involved in the bilateral relations expanding by other relatives.
To give birth to and raising heirs to the throne and future rulers of the state, Kazakh women, due to traditions of parental hearth, becoming a mother, worried about the formation of the sons of a sense of duty to their “nagashi” – maternal relatives occupying a special place in the hierarchy of related ties among Kazakhs.
Hence the participation of Kazakh women in diplomatic practice, of course, was significant, although was manifested indirectly [4, p.183].
However, one cannot ignore the limitations of diplomatic impact through the channel of inter-dynasty marriages. The fact is that by changing a ruler of Kazakhs “kin” component between monarchs could weaken or break, if the successor to the throne was not a brother or son of predecessor. In such cases it may be sharp downturns in international relations.
Characterized in that sense changes in Kazakh-Nogai relations in changing Kazakh rulers in the first three decades of the XVI century: when Kasym Khan – stable relationships and friendships (his daughter is married to an influential Nogai mirza); when Takhir Khan – aggravated relations translate into armed conflicts (he is only cousin of Kasym Khan therefore Nogais did not consider him as a relative); when Khak-Nazar Khan – situation stabilizes and then improves (he is the son of Kasym Khan, his sister is married to an influential Nogai) [4 , p.184].
Based on the above it can be concluded that the origins of Kazakhstan’s experience of the diplomatic service in the ancient past, and is inextricably linked with the history of the establishment and approval of the Kazakh Khanate [5-6].
And if we pay attention in nowadays diplomacy we can notice that the methods are change, but to have good and strong relations is still important. Over the past years of independency, Kazakhstan has been firmly entrenched in the international arena as one of the most active participants in the dialog on international issues. The successful presidency of the country within the framework of two prestigious organizations, the OSCE and OIC, as well as in the regional structures of the SCO and CSTO, and, of course, the anti-nuclear and “green” initiatives of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the nation’s leader, Nursultan Nazarbayev, became not just a worthy contribution to the global security, but also identified Kazakhstan as a well-developed country.
The republic is facing a qualitatively new challenge, the need to reach a certain level of well-being among the citizens, which will allow Kazakhstan to enter the TOP-30 of the most well developed counties in the world by the end of 2050. This result could be achieved by applying a country model of development, which fully justified itself. Strong social policy, social stability as well as ethnic harmony – that is the foundation of modern Kazakhstan.
In the long term, the dynamic development of two strategic areas: the integration of the country and the region into the global markets, as well as the developing of the energy security by switching to alternative sources of energy will allow Kazakhstan to implement the concept of the sustainable development in the most efficient way.
Nowadays, the regional security is one of the most important conditions affecting the broad involvement of the private investment in the national economy and therefore the prosperity of the State. As such, Kazakhstan is making every effort to provide a stable security in the region of Central Asia. It is clear that it’s necessary to have a well-functioning infrastructure, including transport and transit, to be able to participate completely in global economy processes.
Nowadays, a certain number of infrastructure projects are being implementing in the region, with the direct participation of Kazakhstan. In particular, this is a program of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC). For almost 15 years of existence, the program, which was initiated by the ADB, became a sustainable platform for the international dialogue in the field of planning and implementation of some priority regional projects. In the medium term, six of the CAREC transport corridors that passing through the territory of Central Asia and Kazakhstan will provide for not only a transportation between states, but will also become a strategic links in a field of inter-region economic development. The reformation of the transport and communication projects within the CAREC trade and economics corridors will promote greatly to the integration of Kazakhstan, as well as the other countries of the region, in international relations and global markets.
The next project is a special program for the countries of Central Asia (SPECA), which has been developed by the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev along with the UN commissions in 1997. The main aim of the SPECA, in the modern conditions, is the implementation of the various projects in the socio-economic field. The centerpiece of the program is assigned for the development of the transport infrastructure and to the efficient use of water and energy resources in the region. The EU and EBRD assistance in the field of the implementation of the program is represented by the creation of transport corridors, contributing greatly to the integration of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in the world economy.
The “Western-Europe – Western-China” project is also on the list. The revival of the “Great Silk Road” trade highway, that links East and West, began in 2009. With the financial assistance from multilateral development banks, the modernization of the road posts began in four regions: Aktobe, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan and Zhambyl, the length of which is about 33% of the general parameters of the “Western-Europe-Western-China” transit corridor. The completion of this project will not only help to expand the opportunities for economic growth, but also will significantly increase the transit potential of the country, in accordance with the objectives for the development of infrastructure by the end of 2050. The creation of transport and logistics facilities will have an impact on the Global Competitiveness Index of our country and the region, and later on it will help to take a more prominent position in these rankings.
Another important direction that influences Kazakhstan potential joining of the top 30 of the most well developed countries is to provide a stable energy security in the country. Some of the modern trends in the global energy sector reflect the gradual transition of the world community to the alternative “green” energy. In particular, the European Union adopted a decision to reduce the import of hydrocarbons at 60 billion Euros, as well as an increase in the share of “green” energy to 20% by 2020.
In addition to the expected environmental and economic effects, the transition to alternative energy sources in the country will also help to solve social nature problems. To be specific, this will help to create additional workplaces as well as to the preparation of professionals in a field of high technologies and renewable energy.
Nowadays, our country already has its own experience in the field of “green” energy. The mini hydro-electric power stations are already functioning in Kazakhstan. In addition, some of the wind and solar power plants are situated in Zhambyl, Almaty and Kostanay regions. Moreover, there will be the issue of country’s own large-scale wind farms in the nearest future, thanks to the cooperation between the national company SamrukGreen Energy and their German partners from KD Stahlund Maschinenbau GmbH Company.
Kazakhstani contribution to the formation of the “energy of the future” is also quite important. It was supported during the OSCE summit in Astana, also during the sixth Ministerial Conference of the Asia-Pacific countries, as well as at the Global Summit on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. The so called “Green Bridge” initiative will be reflected within the scale of a new international organization later in this year. The further realization of this concept, will improve the mechanisms for transfer of technology and “green” investments as well as it will strengthen the inter-regional cooperation in the field of development of environmentally friendly energy [7].
Finally, due to the perfectly designed application, our country won the right to host the EXPO 2017 in Astana. It is not a coincidence that the main topic of the exhibition is devoted to the energy of the future. Hosting such a big international event will benefit our country in terms of achieving a unique experience in the field of energy conservation. It is mostly because there will be some world’s latest solar, wind and water technologies presented in Astana. Yet, with the support of the leaders in the field of “green” economy, such as EU, Japan, Korea, the United States and Canada, Kazakhstan as well Central Asia will be able not only to obtain and deploy advanced technologies in the field of alternative energy, but also largely contribute to solving the problems of social and economic sphere. This will reflect as the reduction of the unemployment rate, the growth of a social well-being and more [8].
Thus, a new start was given to the established State. All of those tasks should not be regarded as fantastic ones. They provide a very specific prospect for the future where social security, welfare and well-being of citizens will provide for guarantees of stability and prosperity of society and the state.
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