Abstract
The paper describes barriers to the exercise of women's rights in Kazakhstan, the international conventions to which the country is a signatory, and recommendations for improving the situation. The paper paints a picture of Kazakhstan as a country in transition.

From the Paper
"Kazakhstan is very much a country in transition, a country that is coming to terms with internal political turbulence and economic instability as it moves toward a market economy. Though governed by a constitution that was written in Kazakhstan, citizens continue to experience violations of their human and natural rights. Of special significance is the fact that whereas the constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan provides for equality..."

Tags:women's rights, Kazakhstan, CEDAw

Abstract
This paper presents a general background of Kazakhstan today, focusing on its people, politics and economy. The paper gives a comprehensive discussion of the ethnic mixture that makes this nation so interesting, including its various religions. The paper also gives a brief history of this emerging nation to place it in its current context. The author further describes concerns with the current government. The paper concludes with an optimistic outlook for the economic future of the country.

From the Paper
"Sovereign for just over a decade, Kazakhstan has been inhabited by Turk and Mongol nomadic groups for centuries. The region was conquered by the Russians in the 18th century and later, Kazakhstan became one of the republics of the Soviet Union. Modern Kazakhstan reflects a commingling of indigenous Kazak and Russian influences. Russians comprise about one-third of the nation's population and both Russian and Kazak are widely spoken. Russian is more commonly used than Kazak as the language for business and commercial transactions, whereas Kazak is the official state language. In spite of robust economic and political ties with Russia, Kazakhstan does not permit dual citizenship. According to the BBC Country Profile, ethnic Russians in Kazakhstan "resent the lack of dual citizenship and having to pass a Kazakh language test in order to work for government or state bodies." One of the motivations for Kazakhstan's strict citizenship policy is the struggle to create a "cohesive national identity," (CIA)."

Tags:Kazakhstan, developing, nations

Abstract
The paper reveals that Kazakhstan possesses both the natural resources and the economic clout to forge new economic and strategic alliances. The paper reviews the literature to examine the historic trends in exports of the U.S. to Kazakhstan and thus determine the economic impact of Kazakhstan's emerging strength on the United States. The paper concludes that while some significant problems remain firmly in place, U.S. interest in Kazakhstan as a strategic partner in its ongoing war on terrorism will continue to grow in the future. Numerous color graphs are included with the paper.

Outline:
Introduction
Review of Literature
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Today, the Republic of Kazakhstan has emerged as both a growing political and economic powerhouse among the former states of the Soviet Union. As the largest of the former Soviet states (except for Russia itself), Kazakhstan possesses both the natural resources and the economic clout to forge new economic and strategic alliances with former military adversaries, including the United States. Indeed, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has expanded to almost twice its former membership during the Soviet era, the Kazakhstan is well situated to become a prominent member of the international community in the future."

Tags:import, goods, commodities, services, Eurasia, Russia

Abstract
The paper provides a case study about expatriate workers placed in a company's facility in Kazakhstan.

From the Paper
"Bosch Group requires an EMP for its Kazakhstan operations, divided into specific products, including gasoline, Bosch-Rexwroth security systems and diesel motors, each located in separate production facilities. (Festing and Froehlecke) Each of these separate functions units is at a different stage of product maturity. All are affected negatively by a small domestic labor market for qualified managers and specialists, the country is not an attractive overseas placement for Bosch's pool of willing expatriates and local candidates have limited mobility, lack broader national or international experiences..."

Tags:case study, expatriate workers, training

From the Paper
"This research examines the process and progress of the privatization of large business enterprise in Kazakhstan. Large business enterprise, as the term is used in this research, refers to industrial concerns. The findings of this examination are presented in discussions focusing on (1) the nature of the problem--the need for economic reform, (2) the process of reform--reform initiatives and implementation, (3) the progress of privatization--successes and failures, and (4) prognosis for the future of privatization in Kazakhstan."

Abstract
The paper discusses the film "Borat" that portrays a series of encounters between an individual, Borat, and people in the United States. The paper looks at issues of intercultural communication, how sex, gender and power are manifested in verbal behavior and how gender or culture influence non-verbal behavior. The paper also shows how the film illustrates the communication problems and cultural errors that result from using a second language. Additionally, the paper discusses how the film reveals that communication is affected by the tendency of people to hear what they want to hear and to only approve of what they want to hear.

From the Paper
"Intercultural communication is a major issue in the literature on communication and is emphasized in part as a way of training people to understand one another and to communicate in a way that is accepted by others. Many parts of the world today are becoming more alike because of the prevalence of media that exposes everyone to elements of different cultures, though even then, misunderstandings can abound because of a failure to understands and account for real differences in perception and meaning. Some of these problems can be seen illustrated in the film Borat."

Tags:perception, meaning, gender, sex, women, minorities, power, relations

Abstract
This paper examines the distinct styles of textiles, folk arts, architecture and music developed in Central Asia, which reflect the diverse values of the different cultures. These art forms have changed over time through cultural syncretism, innovation and revivalism of earlier forms, the author relates. Today textiles and music are the two most common art forms; whereas, in the past, the two most popular were architecture and folk music.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Textiles and Embroidery
Paintings
Architecture
Music
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The music of Turkmenistan is similar to that of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. It too consists primarily of singing a capella, accompanied by a lute; another instrument called the gijak, similar to the cello, is sometimes used. The performers are called bakshy, and are traditionally traveling performers who also function as shamans or traditional healers. The bekshy often perform at special ceremonies such as weddings and babies baptisms. However, the importance of their healing practices has diminished because of the emergence of the Islamic sheikhs' prominence."

Tags:syncretism traditional, tush kyiz, islamic lyricists

Abstract
The paper relates that in 1995, India's Mittal steel firm sought structured trade financing in order to acquire Kazakhstan's Karmet steel firm. The paper explains that at the time, Mittal was a regional company, not the powerhouse it is today; on the strength of its balance sheet, it could not have acquired the $45 million it needed to buy Karmet. However, the paper explains that Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of the firm, turned to structured finance to make the deal happen. The apper looks at how Mann and Gotz (250) explain that Mittal obtained LOCs from steel buyers in both Europe and Asia, and that the LOCs served as security for the lending banks.

From the Paper
"In 1995, India's Mittal steel firm sought structured trade financing in order to acquire Kazakhstan's Karmet steel firm. At the time, Mittal was a regional company, not the powerhouse it is today. On the strength of its balance sheet, it could not have acquired the $45 million it needed to buy Karmet. However, Lakshmi Mittal, CEO of the firm, turned to structured finance to make the deal happen. Mann and Gotz (250) explain that Mittal obtained LOCs from steel buyers in both Europe and Asia, and that the LOCs served as security for the lending banks. Mittal was able to demonstrate the existence of huge demand for steel in China, which was just beginning..."

Tags:structured, trade, finance

Abstract
This paper explains that, when customers consume a commodity such as an iPod, they often do not realize that not only are they engaging in a relationship with that particular commodity, but they are also becoming intertwined in a series of social, economic and geographical global relationships that are responsible for bringing that product to market. The author points out that the iPod's commodity chain extends from an initial idea in the Silicon Valley, to mining for raw materials such as bauxite and carbon in Guinea and the Republic of Congo, processing plants in Kazakhstan, engineers in India, global high-tech headquarters on nearly every major continent, manufacturers in China, marketing firms in the United States and the end consumer. The paper relates that each and every one of these components has its own commodity chain that begins with conception or a design, production, all the way to the retailing distribution to the consumer

From the Paper
"These relationships can be mapped in reverse from the point of consumption, to a retailer, to a marketing agency, to a supplier, from an exporter/importer, then a producer or manufacturer, and finally, the location of the raw materials of which the consumer product, in this case the iPod, are made of. This sequential chain of functional activity nodes is known as a commodity chain. Identifying a product's commodity chain is critical for maximizing revenues by identifying processes along the commodity chain where operating costs can be reduced and thus, margins increased."

Tags:outsourcing, offshoring, relationship, generator, portalplayer

Abstract
This paper gives background information on the ethnic conflict that has existed for centuries in both Yugoslavia and Chechnya and then looks at how that ethnic conflict has affected each region. The paper compares the different reasons behind the conflicts in each region, the severity of the conflicts, and their political consequences.

From the Paper
"Since the breakup of the Soviet Union, conflict in Eastern Europe has been grounded largely in ethnic, rather than political, differences. Two key examples are the wars and subsequent atrocities in Yugoslavia between 1991 and 2000 and the war between Russia and Chechnya of 1994-1996. In both cases discrimination, whether perceived or actual, solidified ethnic identity and led to violent conflict, a sovereign ethnic state being the goal."

Tags:civil, wars, serb, croat, muslim, tito, bosnia-herzegovina, kosovo, chechen-russian, kazakhstan, break-up, soviet, union