Kazakhstan is about the size of Europe — but we know almost nothing about it

This vast Central Asian country, with eye-popping oil reserves, is swiftly reinventing itself. But who takes control next is the multi-billion-dollar question

From magazine issue: 02 February 2019

The Khazret Sultan Mosque in the sparkling new city of Astana, built at a breathtaking pace to replace Kazakhstan’s former capital Almaty [Loïc Lagarde / Getty Images]

issue 02 February 2019

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Peter Frankopan

Kazakhstan is about the size of Europe — but we know almost nothing about it
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Kazakhstan, say signs by the side of the road in this vast Central Asian country, is ‘a land of unity and accord’. Few outside pay a great deal of attention to a state that is almost as large as Europe, and home to eye-popping natural resources, chiefly — but not only — oil.