In The Media
Martha Brill Olcott
Book
Kazakhstan: Unfulfilled Promise
At the outset of independence 10 years ago, it appeared that democracy was beginning to take hold in Kazakhstan. A decade later, economic reform is mired in widespread corruption and a regime that flirted with democracy is now laying the foundation for family-based, authoritarian rule.
Published on Feb 15, 2002
Source: Washington
Advance Praise
"This detailed but accessible work will be the definitive work on the newly independent state of Kazakhstan."
—CHOICE
[Olcott]...is one of the most active and sought-after American scholars working on Central Asia."
—Middle East Policy
"[Olcott]...knows more about Kazakhstan than anyone else in the West."
—The New York Review of Books
"...not only shares the lucid insights and depth of a seasoned observer, it greatly enriches the literature on post-Soviet transitions."
—Foreign Affairs
"For years anyone interested in Kazakhstan has had no trouble picking the very best book on the subject: The Kazakhs by Martha Olcott. Now, at last, there's a real rival: shrewd and sensitive to the deep problems of post-Soviet politics, and—of course!—by Martha Olcott."
—Stephen Sestanovich, former Ambassador at Large and Special Advisor to the Secretary of State
"Olcott gives us the best up-to-date account of a transition to modernity that appears to have lost its way."
—Ronald Grigor Suny, University of Chicago
"A bible for understanding the country, written by a preeminent scholar."
—William Courtney, former Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia
About the Author
Martha Brill Olcott
Former Senior Associate, Russia and Eurasia Program and, Co-director, al-Farabi Carnegie Program on Central Asia
Olcott is professor emerita at Colgate University, having taught political science there from 1974 to 2002. Prior to her work at the endowment, Olcott served as a special consultant to former secretary of state Lawrence Eagleburger.
- After Crimea: Will Kazakhstan be Next in Putin’s Reintegration Project?
- China’s Unmatched Influence in Central AsiaArticle
Martha Brill Olcott
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Vučić’s Downfall in Serbia Is Fatal to Russia’s Influence in the BalkansCommentary
The new Serbian leadership may have promised to keep on cooperating with Russia, but soon they will have to make a choice between fighting corruption and sealing lucrative deals with Moscow. The two are mutually exclusive, even if the new leaders in Belgrade haven’t yet realized it.
Maksim Samorukov
- How Did Serbia Remove Vučić Without a Single Smashed Window?Commentary
Serbia’s electoral earthquake is an extremely rare example of an entire political system being defeated by street protesters who played by the rules.
Alexander Baunov
- The Foundations of a Russian Dictatorship: The Kremlin’s New IdeologyPaper
The concept authored by Sergei Kiriyenko and his team can be considered not only an apologia for the Putin regime, but also a blueprint for Russia’s future configuration.
Andrey Pertsev
- Putin’s Post-Election Reshuffle Advances Russian State ErosionCommentary
The pressures of war are gradually warping Russia’s system of governance, making it more vulnerable to a future crisis.
Tatiana Stanovaya
- The Spring and Autumn of Chinese PoliticsCommentary
China’s political future will be shaped between now and next October. As the Communist Party enters its intense “campaign season” to prepare for a major political transition in 2027, reading Beijing's actions and responses may become more difficult as domestic politics weigh on its behavior more than usual.
Damien Ma
