Preview

Kutafin Law Review

Advanced search

Integration Processes within the Eurasian Economic Union: Kazakhstan’s Narratives

https://doi.org/10.17803/2313-5395.2021.2.16.289-313

Abstract

Integration processes in the Eurasian space are ambiguously assess both by officials and an expert community of the member countries. Thus, there is still a discussion in Kazakhstan and various narratives are being formed concerning the expediency of the country’s presence in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the advantages and challenges associated with this participation. The article deals with the main narratives that are presenting in Kazakhstan and describing the integration processes within the EAEU — official and expert (both critical about the EAEU and supporting Eurasian integration). The analysis conducted in the article is based on the understanding of the narrative as a “statement-result”, defined by its structure (coherence between key concepts). The article shows that all narratives about the EAEU, present in the Kazakhstani discourse, have a similar structure, formed by the concepts of “independence”, “integration”, “politics” and “economics”. The differences between the narratives are determined by the emphasis on either the “independencepolitics” or “integration-economics” constellations (linkages), and the proposed format of regionalization of Kazakhstan within Central Asia or Eurasia.

About the Authors

I. A. Chernykh
Kazakh-German University
Kazakhstan

Irina A. Chernykh - Dr. Sci. (History), Professor

111 Pushkin St., Almaty 050010



R. R. Burnashev
Kazakh-German University
Kazakhstan

Rustam R. Burnashev - Cand. Sci. (Philosophy), Professor

111 Pushkin St., Almaty 050010



References

1. Akimbekov, S., (2014). Unnecessary haste. Once again to the question of Eurasian integration. Russia in Global Affairs, 1 (12), pp. 88–96. (In Russ.)

2. Alibekova, D., (2021). Kusainov: “Plumber-Payers” Became “Effective Managers”. Vedomosti of Kazakhstan. April 25. Available at: https://kazvedomosti.kz/article/kusainov-reformy-nevozmozhnypotomu-chto-effektivnymi-menedzherami-stali-santehnikizaplatochniki/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

3. Ashmzhan, J., (2020). Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: The Fate of the Kazakh People is on the Scales of History. Kazinform International News Agency. 25 June. Available at: https://www.inform.kz/ru/kasymzhomart-tokaev-sud-ba-kazahskogo-naroda-nahoditsya-na-vesahistorii_a3665771 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

4. Askarov, T., (2021). EAEU: ASuitcase Without aHandle. Vedomosti of Kazakhstan. February 2. Available at: https://kazvedomosti.kz/ article/eaes-chemodan-bez-ruchki/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

5. Burnashev, R., (2015). Security Challenges in Central Asia. L’Europe en formation, 375(1), pp. 106–122. (In Eng.)

6. Danilin, N., (2018). They Will Say that Kazakhstan Stabbed Russia in the Back Again — Satpaev on Why Kazakhstan Should Not Respond to Sanctions Against Russia. Caravan. September 17. Available at: https://www.caravan.kz/news/skazhut-chto-kazakhstan-vnov-votknulnozh-v-spinu-rossii-satpaev-o-tom-pochemu-rk-ne-dolzhna-otvechatna-sankcii-protiv-rf-480375/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

7. Demidov, V., (2018). What the Single Currency of the EAEU Will Bring and Whether it is Needed in Principle — Experts. Zakon. kz. September 18. Available at: https://www.zakon.kz/4937591-chtoprineset-edinaya-valyuta-eaes-i.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

8. Dodonov, V., (2021). Financial Integration in the EAEU: a View from Kazakhstan. Eurasia.Expert. April 1. Available at: https://eurasia. expert/finansovaya-integratsiya-v-eaes-vzglyad-iz-kazakhstana/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

9. Eurasian Economic Union (2014). Treaty. Available at: https:// docs.eaeunion.org/en-us [Accessed 21.05.2021].

10. Greimas, A., Courtés, J., (1982). Semiotics and language: an Analytical Dictionary. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

11. Grigoryan, M., (2015). The Optimists Are Those Who Believe That the EAEU Has a Future: A Kazakhstani Political Scientist. First Armenian News. July 9. Available at: https://ru.1in.am/1104079.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

12. Gusev, O., (2019). The EAEU is a clear economic platform. And political integration is all fantasy. Inbusiness.kz. May 30. Available at: https://inbusiness.kz/ru/news/eaes-—-eto-chetkayaekonomicheskaya-platforma-a-politicheskaya-integraciya-—-eto-vsefantazii [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

13. Isabaeva, S., (2017) What Awaits Eurasian Integration after Atambayev’s Statements? Central Asian Monitor. 3 November. Available at: https://camonitor.kz/29588-chto-zhdet-evraziyskuyu-integraciyuposle-zayavleniy-atambaeva.html [Accessed 21.05.2021].

14. Iuritsyn, V., (2019). 25 years to the idea of Eurasian integration. ZONAkz Internet newspaper. 31 January. Available at: https:// zonakz.net/2019/01/31/25-let-idei-evrazijskoj-integracii/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

15. Jackson, R. (2016). Regime Security. Contemporary Security Studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pp. 200–214. (In Eng.)

16. Kalashnikova, A., (2014). Aydos Sarym: Who are we for Russia — Mexico or Canada? Ratel.kz. September 26. Available at: https://ratel. kz/outlook/aydos_saryim_kto_myi_dlya_rossii_meksika_ili_kanada [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

17. Kolbaev, B., (2020). “Crossroads”: Has the EAEU Reached its “Ceiling” in Integration? Radio Azattyq. 27 May. Available at: https:// rus.azattyk.org/a/30636764.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

18. Kusainov, A., (2016). Kazakh Economist: “Trade Wars Are Possible in the Eurasian Union.” Eurasia Expert. June 7. Available at: https://eurasia.expert/kazakhstanskiy-ekonomist-v-evraziyskomsoyuze-vozmozhny-torgovye-voyny/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

19. Kuzmin, N., (2019). Central Asia: Defining Priorities for Regional Cooperation. Zakon.kz. November 29. Available at: https:// www.zakon.kz/4997337-tsentralnaya-aziya-opredelenie.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

20. Library of the First President of the Republic of KazakhstanEmbassy, (2020). For the First Time in Moscow — the Exhibition of the Library of Elbassy “N. Nazarbaev — the Architect of Eurasian Integration”. Available at: http://presidentlibrary.kz/en/news/firsttime-moscow-exhibition-library-elbassy-nnazarbayev-architecteurasian-integration [Accessed 21.05.2021].

21. Likhachev, M., (2015). V.V. Putin’s Proposal for an EAEU Currency Union Caused Mixed Reactions in Kazakhstan. Russian Institute for Strategic Studies. April 29. Available at: https://riss.ru/ analitycs/14962/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

22. Lukashenko, A., (2011). On the Fates of Our Integration. Izvestia. October 17. Available at: http://www.izvestia.ru/news/504081 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

23. Mansurov, T., (2019). 25 Years of Nursultan Nazarbaev’s Eurasian Project. Kazakhstanskaya Pravda. March 26. Available at: https://www.kazpravda.kz/articles/view/25-let-evraziiskomu-proektunursultana-nazarbaeva [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

24. Migdal, J., (1988). Strong Societies and Weak States: StateSociety Relations and State Capabilities in the Third World. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

25. MK-Kazakhstan, (2018). There Are Still No Common Standards for Social Policy in the EAEU Countries. MK-Kazakhstan. November 6. Available at: https://mk-kz.kz/politics/2018/11/06/v-stranakh-eaesdo-sikh-por-net-edinykh-standartov-socialnoy-politiki.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

26. Nazarbaev, N., (2021). Nursultan Nazarbaev Took Part in the Meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Official website of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan-Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbaev. May 21. Available at: https://elbasy.kz/ru/news/2021- 05/nursultan-nazarbaev-prinyal-uchastie-v-zasedanii-vysshegoevraziyskogo-ekonomicheskogo [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

27. Nazarbaev, N., (1995). Interview. Nezavisimaya Gazeta. 15 November. (In Russ.)

28. Nazarbaev, N., (2011). Eurasian Union: from the Idea to the History of the Future. Izvestia. October 25. Available at: http://izvestia. ru/news/504908 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

29. Nursha, A., (2017). The EAEU and its Post-Soviet Environment: Toward a Discussion on the Format of Cooperation in the Context of the Slowdown of the EAEU Enlargement Process. Russian International Affairs Council. October 20. Available at: https://russiancouncil.ru/ blogs/riacexperts/eaes-i-ego-postsovetskoe-okruzhenie-k-diskussii-oformate-sotrudniches/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

30. Omarova, A., (2021). There is No Way Without Integration. Spik.kz. March 5. Available at: https://spik.kz/bez-integratsii-ne-oboytis [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

31. Omirbek, A., (2020). ASupport or a Burden? What Will the EAEU Become for Kazakhstan in the Period of Economic Recovery? Central Asia Monitor. 24 April. Available at: https://camonitor.kz/34715-oporaili-obuza-chem-stanet-dlya-kazahstana-eaes-v-period-vosstanovleniyaekonomiki.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

32. Omirbek, A., (2021). Who in the EAEC to live well? Spik. kz. April 9. Available at: https://spik.kz/komu-v-eaes-zhit-khorosho [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

33. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (2011). Speech at the Lomonosov Moscow State University on March 29, 1994. The First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev: Chronicles of Activities 1994–1995. Astana: Business World Astana. Pp. 328–331. (In Russ.)

34. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (2014). Decree of January 21, 2014 № 741 On the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2014–2020. Kazakhstanskaya Pravda. January 30. (In Russ.)

35. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (2020a). Decree No 280 of March 6, 2020 On the Concept of Foreign Policy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020–2030. Available at: http://adilet.zan. kz/rus/docs/U2000000280 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

36. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (2020b). President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council. Official site of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. May 19. Available at: https://www.akorda.kz/en/events/ international_community/foreign_other_events/president-kassymjomart-tokayev-took-part-in-the-session-of-the-supreme-eurasianeconomic-council [Accessed 21.05.2021].

37. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, (2021). Address to the Heads of the Eurasian Economic Union Member States. Eurasian Economic Commission. January 18. Available at: http:// www.eurasiancommission.org/en/nae/news/Pages/18-01-2021-1.aspx [Accessed 21.05.2021].

38. Putin, V., (2011). A New Integration Project for Eurasia — a Future that is Born Today. Izvestia. October 3. Available at: http:// izvestia.ru/news/502761 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

39. Radio Azattyq, (2014a). “Anti-Eurasian Forum” in Almaty. Radio Azattyq. 2 April. Available at: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/antievraziiskiiforum-almaty/25330706.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

40. Radio Azattyq, (2014b). “Anti-Eurasian hearings” were held in Almaty. Radio Azattyq. 22 May. Available at: https://rus.azattyq. org/a/25394392.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

41. Radio Azattyq, (2020). “Irrelevant Words”. What is behind Tokayev’s Interview with a Russian Publication? Radio Azattyq. 3 June. Available at: https://rus.azattyq.org/a/kazakhstan-toakyev-interviewto-russian-media/30651095.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

42. Regnum, (2019). Uzbekistan and the EAEU: Why should Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan worry? Regnum. October 7. Available at: https://regnum. ru/news/economy/2739803.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

43. Sabekov, S., (2014). N. Nazarbaev: Dilettantes Talk about the Unprofitability of the EAEU for Kazakhstan. Kazinform International News Agency. 24 August. Available at: https://www.inform.kz/ru/nnazarbaev-o-nevygodnosti-eaes-dlya-kazahstana-govoryat-diletanty_ a2690337 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

44. Saikal, A. (ed.), (2016). Weak States, Strong Societies: Power and Authority in the New World Order. London: I.B.Tauris.

45. Satpaev, D., (2017). The EAEU Continues to Slowly Rust. Risk Assessment Group. December 2. Available at: http://risk.kz/12617 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

46. Satpaev, D., (2019). Why Uzbekistan is lured into the EAEU? Forbs.kz. October 10. Available at: https://forbes.kz//finances/ integration/zachem_uzbekistan_zamanivayut_v_eaes/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

47. Satpaev, D., (2021). Geopolitical Games around the EAEC. Forbs.kz. March 4. Available at: https://forbes.kz/process/expertise/ geopoliticheskie_igryi_vokrug_eaes/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

48. Sungorkin, V., Sedov, A. and Kiyanitsa, V., (2020). President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev: There is no concept of “national minority” in Kazakhstan. Komsomolskaya Pravda. 3 June. Available at: https://www.kp.kz/daily/27137/4228949/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

49. Svoik, P., (2020). Kazakhstan outside the EAEU: Escape from Reality. Moscow State University Information and Analytical Center for the Study of Socio-Political Processes in the Post-Soviet Space. June 3. Available at: https://ia-centr.ru/experts/petr-svoik/kazakhstan-vneeaes-begstvo-ot-realnosti/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

50. Taibekuly, A., (2021). Different integration: what is the result of 10 years of the EAEU? Ekonomist. Available at: https://ekonomist.kz/ taibekuly/raznaya-integratsiya/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

51. TASS, (2019). Issue of Uzbekistan joining EAEU under consideration, says Russian speaker. Russian news agency TASS. October 2. Available at: https://tass.com/economy/1080900 [Accessed 21.05.2021].

52. Tatilya, K., (2014). EAEU: Who Will Win? Central Asia Monitor. July 3. Available at: https://camonitor.kz/11981-eaes-kto-vyigraet.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

53. Tengri News, (2015). It’s too Early to Talk about Creating a Single Currency in the EAEU — EEC. Tengri News. March 30. Available at: https://tengrinews.kz/private_finance/govorit-o-sozdanii-edinoyvalyutyi-v-eaes-esche-rano-eek-272348/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

54. The Big Game, (2020). The First Channel. October 10. Available at: https://www.1tv.ru/shows/big-game/vypuski/belovezhe-bolshayaigra-vypusk-ot-10-12-2020 [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

55. Tolegenov, B., (2020). Does the EAEU-Skepticism Have Prospects in Kazakhstan? Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting. February 2. Available at: https://cabar.asia/en/does-theeaeu-skepticism-have-prospects-in-kazakhstan/ [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)

56. Tuleubekova, A., (2021). The Turkic Council May Become Another Platform for Improving the Economy. Zakon.kz. March 31. Available at: https://www.zakon.kz/5063682-tyurkskiy-sovet-mozhetstat-eshche.html [Accessed 21.05.2021]. (In Russ.)


Review

For citations:


Chernykh I.A., Burnashev R.R. Integration Processes within the Eurasian Economic Union: Kazakhstan’s Narratives. Kutafin Law Review. 2021;8(2):289-313. https://doi.org/10.17803/2313-5395.2021.2.16.289-313

Views: 829


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2713-0525 (Print)
ISSN 2713-0533 (Online)