Building Global Astana: Urban Planning or Political Gambling?

Abstract

This paper analyses the experience and further effects of moving capital in Kazakhstan initiated by First President of independent Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev and attempts answer to the question: “Did President Nazarbayev and modern Kazakhstan achieved announced goals and tasks as a result of moving the capital to newly build Astana? How it was done by Nursultan Nazarbayev as main manager of this project and the role in strategic development reserved to Astana?” More specifically, this paper conducts a comparative analysis of the dependence from oil and gas price to the process of development and growth of Kazakhstan and the role of President in the context of Astana construction. The study adds to the emergent literature on capital moving and it reasons and effects on Kazakhstan. Additionally describes the meaning of global city and President Nazarbayev steps to bring closer his project to the top list world cities in XXI century. The paper presents the results of research based on literature review of Nazarbayev’s works regarding the strategic development of Kazakhstan, moving of capital to Astana city. Paper includes critics and analyzes of foreign researchers during the 18 years of Astana city became main city. The author concludes that Astana is a results of dominant position of government and President supported by high prices of national resources and came to the period for the transformation of the city’s development to the realistic ambitions, greater freedom and leadership of the private sector, public discussions of how to develop the city further.