The Rising Multiplex World Order and Regional Order in Central Asia: a case study of the Emerging Role of the EU and its implications for Kazakhstan’s Multivector foreign policy

Abstract This study seeks to examine the role of multivectorism in the ever-changing international landscape and how, despite the detractors that believe multivectorism will eventually deteriorate into balancing and bandwagoning, the new multiplex world has strengthened it. A case study of Kazakhstani foreign policy will unpack this phenomenon by exploring the development of Kazakhstan’s multivector policies, including an analysis of the dynamics of multivectorism amidst international tensions and the reshuffling of alliances, shedding light on how these events influence a state’s strategic calculus and their interactions within the broader multiplex world. Recent geopolitical and geoeconomic conditions have significantly impacted the relationship between the EU and Kazakhstan. The EU’s interest in Kazakhstan has increased due to disruptions in the energy supply from Russia, leading to increased engagement in the region to secure its interests. This emphasis on connectivity has created new opportunities for dialogue and cooperation beyond energy. Kazakhstan’s strategic importance in balancing relations with Russia has made it a focal point for the EU in the region. The paper will demonstrate how the EU’s new interactions reshape the complex political contestation and show how the multiplexity and interdependencies of today’s foreign policies are more nuanced than a simple alignment strategy.