A rising snow leopard in Eurasia: Prospects and predicaments of Kazakhstan

Since declaring independence in 1991, the rapid development of Kazakhstan among other Post-Soviet Central Asian states has won global attention. In the midst of celebrating the successful transition experience and its prospects, it is equally important to foresee the challenging issues facing Kazakhstan. This article discusses its relevance to the contemporary challenges into three concrete issues. They are the ‘Color Revolution’, global energy crisis and the ‘War on Terror’. Facing the tide of globalization and regional interconnectedness between Europe and Asia, the future prospects of Kazakhstan also depend on the broader international cooperation across the borders. With tight cooperation with international community with proactive measures, this article also attempts to explore how Kazakhstan tackle these challenges with the sense of independence, courage and wisdom, it is hoped to illustrate the vision of Kazakhstan – A rising “Snow Leopard” in Eurasia.