Kazakhstan joined the international community in difficult times, when many of the parameters of international relations were subject to change. Creation of a strong and independent Kazakhstan required new approaches to the development of foreign policy strategy. This position was dictated by the large-scale transformations in the international arena. The destruction of the bipolar system of international relations, the lack of specific tools for the organization of the global political arena, globalization as a modern form of international world order stimulated the growth of the legitimacy to the subjects of current international relations. Classical international law has proceeded from the strict principle of legal personality, under which only the States are legitimate actors in international relations and the principles of organization and functioning of international relations are the sovereignty and legitimacy. On the one hand, it is the election of one’s path of economic development, political regime, i.e. internal legitimacy. On the other hand, the equality and independence of all states, non-interference in the internal affairs of each other or external legitimacy. If the principle of the sovereignty aims at foundation of the state as the epicenter of political power, then the principle of legitimacy aims at justification of acceptable means to execute the state rule and the limits of state power execution. There is no consensus concerning the nature and driving forces of the new system of international relations in the world science on international relations. There is a stage of the formation of main trends of the future world order, its sprouting from the old system of international relations.
Currently, there are hundreds of states on the world map with their own traditions and interests, and it becomes more difficult to keep the situation under control by one state. We are talking about the formation of a new political space, a new world order. The end of the Cold War has led to the occurrence of a number of distressed failed states, according to F. Fukuyama "states-losers". The principles of sovereignty and non- interference being until recently the basic principles of international relations were gradually transformed by narrowing the inviolability of the principle of sovereignty in international relations. Since the second half of the nineties, the practice running counter to the principle of non-intervention was developed in international relations, on which relied international relations since the Peace of Westphalia, this referred to legitimation of the practice of humanitarian intervention, the delegitimation of governments of sovereign states. It is known that for the last 10 years, a group of influential countries of the international community has tried to supplement a set of principles and rules, on which the international order is based, by introducing new regulatory principles. These are humanitarian intervention, intervention of retribution and preventive intervention, electoral legitimacy. It should be noted that none of these changes were not fully legitimate, but had a practical impact on international relations. Social, economic and cultural factors related to the internal life of the community are reflected in the international behavior of governments and political leaders. Thus, the external legitimacy is closely linked to its internal legitimacy, i.e., a source of international legitimacy is, to some extent, the internal legitimacy of states and governments that received the right to act on behalf of their people.
The main defining trend in international relations is globalization and regional integration, as the economic aspect acquires the growing importance in the relationship of modern states. Globalization has claimed presence of competitive, capable, internally stable, non-corrupt, democratic states on the world stage. Globalization of production and capital has given rise to the international financial and trade flows which cannot be controlled by the state. The system of international relations is gradually moving towards multipolarity and there is uneven aging of new poles outside the "eight". The world community based on the balance of multiple centers of power is much more complex than bipolar or unipolar world. Thus, multipolarity of the world becomes the basic premise of the new international order. Globalization requires better management of an increasing number of areas of activity, involves such a number of people, economies and resources, such level of science, technology, communications, that the risks become unacceptable. The regimes that do not enjoy the confidence of the world became known as "illegitimate".
The Republic of Kazakhstan is based on the fact that the creation of the world of the XXI century as an approach to world affairs in the context of globalization can only be the fruit of a common understanding of problems facing the community, the result of collective efforts. The scale of today's challenges is so great, that neither a state nor a group of states can cope with alone, no matter how strong they may be" [1]. The world is entering a new era, when the strategy of confrontation from the position of military strength does not reach the political objectives for which it has been designed. None of the current international problems has a military solution, as the role of the force factor is objectively reducing in global and regional politics.
Kazakhstan in the formation of foreign policy strategy proceeds from the current geopolitical and geoeconomic realities, when the importance of the aspects of foreign policy such as trade, technology, exchange control is increased, which brings Kazakhstan into the category of competitive countries. The initial document in determining the foreign policy goals of the Republic of Kazakhstan was "Strategy of formation and development of Kazakhstan as a sovereign state". The conceptual principles of formation and development of independent Kazakhstan have been designated by President Nazarbayev N.A. in this small- size work. That was in 1992. In 1997, there was designed a fundamental development program of the country up to 2030. In all messages of the President from 1997 to 2008 it was noted that all of the republic's foreign policy priorities remained unchanged. Thanks to the versatility of a balanced foreign policy, Kazakhstan has managed to achieve a strengthening of sovereignty and statehood, the country's accession to the system of international relations. Given the peculiarities of the geopolitical, economic and ethnic situation in the country there was set up and performed the main task of forming around our borders a zone of trust, good neighborliness and friendship based on the absence of territorial and political claims to the neighbors, openness and willingness to mutual multilateral cooperation. At the same time Kazakhstan has become a member of many international organizations, has reached the level of major foreign policy initiatives that meet the major trends of world development. The choice of foreign policy priorities for Kazakhstan has become a matter of both self-legitimation and external legitimation. Examples of self-legitimation and external legitimation of Kazakhstan at the international level are the CICA initiative put forward by the Head of our state at the 47th session of the UN General Assembly in 1992, the adoption of Catalogue of Confidence – the first large-scale document in the history of the Asian continent providing for multilateral cooperation in the political, anti- terrorism, economic, humanitarian and other fields. Kazakhstan was the venue for several international events on intercultural and religious dialogue and tolerance, among which the Congress of world and traditional religions’ leaders had a special place, the republic became the initiator of this forum in 2003. Eurasian media forums and congresses of world and traditional religions as well as Kazakhstan business-forums have long been used by Kazakhstan as a place where the head of state acts as a lobbyist of interests of Kazakh business abroad. The active foreign policy of our country on the international scene is that from 2008 to 2011 Kazakhstan leads six different international organizations. These are the presidency in the Cooperation Dialogue in Asia in 2008-2009, OSCE in 2010, OIC in 2011, as well as management of the executive structures of the EurAsEC, SCO, CICA TURKIC. Kazakhstan as a young state needs an effective combination of socio-cultural traditions and scientific-technological developments of both the West and the East. Presidency of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the OSCE, the program "Path to Europe" will certainly become an opportunity to acquire a serious political experience to hold negotiating process, skills of compromise, the ability to listen to the opponents, skills to conduct a dialogue, which will bear fruit in the future construction of
democracy and statehood by increasing both external and internal positions of power structures.
The main foreign policy priorities were developed in three concepts adopted in 1995, 2000 and 2005. On 19 November 2008 at the expanded board of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, N.Nazarbayev instructed to develop a new concept of foreign policy of Kazakhstan. This is due to the need to develop new patterns of behavior in the foreign policy, of the "new and largely innovative attitude on the part of all bodies and institutions of government, business, scientific and expert communities" [2].
Need for a new foreign policy doctrine appears when geopolitical conditions change, new fundamental tasks arise. Therefore, the protection of the interests and the strengthening of the international positions of the Republic of Kazakhstan need a new concept. The foreign policy priorities remain unchanged in all messages of the President. These are multi-vector policy, pragmatism, constructivism, dialogue and cooperation. Multi- vector foreign policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, causing a lot of controversy and criticism at the time, has now been shown to be relevant. The main task of the foreign and domestic policy is the ability to respond to changes that occur in the world and learn to transform their impact on the country. Multilateral balanced foreign policy of Kazakhstan allowed the country to enter into the system of international relations and world economic relations, to strengthen the sovereignty and statehood. Today, Kazakhstan has taken place as an independent, dynamically developing state, a member of the international community, has undergone unprecedented in the complexity economic, social and political reforms. Multi-vector policy has made it possible not to be attached to either world center, as the republic is located at the intersection of the interests of world geopolitics and has to maneuver.
Taking into account the peculiarities of the ethnic, geopolitical, economic status of the republic there was set up and carried out the main task of forming around the borders a zone of trust, good neighborliness and friendship based on the absence of territorial and political claims to the neighbors, openness and willingness to mutual multilateral cooperation. At the same time Kazakhstan has become a member of many international organizations, reached the level of the major foreign policy initiatives that meet the major trends of world development. Today, multi-vector policy gets a new meaning as the world gradually begins the transition from a policy of force and confrontation to a policy of harmony and partnership.
Thus, the main achievements of the Kazakh government in 2008 were, in our opinion, getting the three refineries under state control, increase in the share of Kazakhstan in Kashagan project, adoption of the pragmatic three-year budget that takes into account a possible drop in raw material prices, formation of food stabilization funds which should guarantee food security. In late 2008 there was held the 10th anniversary meeting of the Investors Council under the President of Kazakhstan, where Kazakhstan first proposed condition that the Kazakh share should increase every year. These facts, in our view, demonstrate that the Republic of Kazakhstan is entering a new stage in foreign policy. It is a stage to defend its national interests and to further strengthen the international prestige. Logic of actions can be traced in it. At the beginning of international cooperation there has been created comfortable and liberal environment for foreign companies, including the importation of foreign goods, services and labor. Now it is time to mobilize domestic resources, legitimation of domestic policy.
Thus, a balanced foreign policy has made it possible not to be attached to either world center, as the republic is located at the intersection of the interests of world geopolitics and has to maneuver. The opportunity to participate in major international organizations will allow for the sustainable development of Kazakhstan, and will undoubtedly be a push to further recognize the actions of the authorities both nationally and internationally. Multi-vector and balanced policy, no strict dependence of the foreign policy on behavior of a partner, taking into account the situation in the region and in the world, changing the world market. In practice this means mutually beneficial cooperation with both near and far neighbors. During the years of independence, Kazakhstan has become a country with an active foreign policy. According to the Global Competitiveness Index 2006-2007, Kazakhstan ranked No. 56. According to a UN report on human development in 2009 Kazakhstan ranked No. 82 going into a group with a "high level of human development". Further improvement of the economic and political life has led to such steps of the authorities which mean the legitimation of both domestic and foreign policy.
- Nazarbayev N.A., Strategy of Transformation of the Society and Rebirth of the Eurasian Civilization. – : Economics, 2000 – p. 287.
- Nazarbayev A., "New Kazakhstan in the New World: A Message from the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People of Kazakhstan // Kazakhstan Today. – 2007. – March 1.