research

This thesis studies non-elite perceptions of China’s major geopolitical project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in Kazakhstan. It will research whether public opinion considers the BRI beneficial to Kazakhstan and/or Kazakhstani citizens. It will be a mixed-methods study utilising qualitative interviews and focus groups, quantitative population surveys and blog/social media analysis, with critical geopolitics as a theoretical lens. Analysing attitudes to the BRI aims to add to the discourse on China’s rise and attitudes towards Sino growth in neighbouring countries.