Purchasing Power: The Effects of Foreign Investment on Political Development in Kazakhstan

<p>This thesis examines the effects of foreign direct investment on Kazakhstan's political growth. Kazakhstan's transition to a market economy was plagued by corruption, and heavy investment in the oil industry generated resource dependency concerns. The regime later began to exert control over the oil industry through renegotiated contracts and legislative changes. This enriched and empowered the regime. As a result, Kazakhstani presidentm Nursultan Nazarbayev, was able to consolidate control over the state by employing "soft authoritarian" tactics and by rewarding political supporters. The regime was able to employ these tactics because of the wealth that foreign investment created. Thus, control over the investment-friendly oil industry allowed the regime to strengthen its hold over Kazakhstan, limiting opportunities for meaningful political reform.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts in Political Science (MA)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Sullivan, William Curtis

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Zeng, Ka

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ghadbian, Najib
• Kelley, Donald R.

• Social sciences
• Foreign direct investment
• Kazakhstan
• Oil industry politics
• Political development
• International Relations
• Political Economy
• Social Influence and Political Communication

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/563

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uark.edu:etd-1562