Kazakhstan Language Policy: 'Latinisation' as an 'Anti-Russification': What Does it Bring to the Country and the Region?

Changing alphabet and language policy shapes national identity and international cooperation. In the past century, Turkey has changed their alphabet from arabic to latin. This reform, made positive changes in society as well as idendity. It also created new layer of «secular Turks». Meanwhile in Central Asia, the alphabet was changed from arabic to latin, and from latin to cyrillic. This reform was part of «Russification», unification with Soviet Union and caused isolation from the rest of the world. Using cyrillic alphabet made those countries isolated and Moscow oriented. After collapse of Soviet Union some states changed their alphabets to latin and Kazakhstan was among those rare who kept cyrilic based alphabet. In 21st century independent Kazakhstan has multi-vectoral politics and changing their alphabet to latin will cause certain effects. Currently Kazakhstan has strong cooperation with EU, Russia, Turkey, China. Latinisation of alphabet in the past century aimed to Turkey oriented policy. It might be same in 21st century or it might open the doors to the western world. The country will either become "pan-turkic" or "pro-western hub" in the area. The country has close ties to Russia and common border in the north. Latinisation will certainly change the status of Russian language in the country and identity. For Russia losing its influence in the western or eastern parts of the world is reducing its status of "Eurasian power". This paper will investigate how much "latinisation in Kazakhstan" might affect the status of Russia as «Eurasian power» and influence on relations in energy sector between Central Asia and EU.