This presentation is a continuation of research I have conducted in the past year and presented to the Southern Political Science Association in 2025 as a socio-political examination of Kazakhstan since becoming an independent nation since the collapse of the United Soviet Socialist Republic. The de facto seat of power in the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan is the location of much material wealth in the region, but also a source of incredibly distinct and storied culture despite well-documented Soviet erasure. The presentation will examine the implications of these developments in a holistic fashion and ultimately answer a question many Americans have when it comes to foreign relations and developments: "Why should I care?"
