The Normative Power of the European Union in Kazakhstan

Even though EU-Kazakhstan relations have achieved remarkable progress in certain areas since the establishment of diplomatic relations in the early 1990s, the EU cannot boast about its accomplishments in pursuing a values-based agenda in Kazakhstan. Norms and values promoted by the EU provide inspiration in Kazakhstan's discourse, although not all of them are equally welcomed. This paper argues that the values-based agenda of the EU in Kazakhstan has suffered serious setbacks, because the EU has adopted self-imposed limits in its perception and approach towards the country. It argues that the EU contemporary strategy as a normative power helps to sustain cooperative and pragmatic relations with Kazakhstan, but at the same it hinders the process of promotion of democratic values in the country. Examining the efforts taken by the EU with regard to Kazakhstan’s democratic development, this paper offers some suggestions on refocusing and reshaping the current approach.