03
April 2019
Past Event
President to Powerbroker: The Future of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan

President to Powerbroker: The Future of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
April 03, 2019
03
April 2019
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Ben Judah

Former Research Fellow

Marlene Laruelle

Associate Director and Research Professor, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University

Erica Marat

Associate Professor, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University

Nate Schenkkan

Director for Special Research, Freedom House

Hudson Institute will host a discussion on the recent resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the future of Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev’s sudden resignation as president of Kazakhstan on March 19—a post he had occupied since the country’s independence in 1990—marked the end of a tenure characterized by corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights abuses. Or did it?

Far from retiring quietly, Nazarbayev continues to exercise authority over Kazakhstan, designating himself Leader of the Nation and retaining control of the influential national security council. Experts have explained his move from president to powerbroker as a new kind of authoritarian transition—one that could even provide a future model for Vladimir Putin. Heavily influenced by Russia and China, Kazakhstan is an increasingly important strategic consideration for the United States. The future of Nazarbayev’s regime will have significant implications for U.S. engagement in Central Asia and beyond.

Hudson Research Fellow Ben Judah will be joined by George Washington University’s Marlene Laruelle, the National Defense University’s Erica Marat, and Nate Schenkkan from Freedom House.

**NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.**

Related Events
02
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
After Midnight Hammer: The State of Iran’s Nuclear Program and What’s Next in the Middle East
Featured Speakers:
David Albright
Michael Doran
Maxar satellite imagery collected on June 22 shows extensive damage at the Fordow underground nuclear enrichment complex. (Getty Images)
02
July 2025
Virtual Event | Online Only
After Midnight Hammer: The State of Iran’s Nuclear Program and What’s Next in the Middle East

David Albright, one of the leading experts on the Iranian nuclear program, will join  Michael Doran for a fireside chat on the state of Iran’s nuclear ambitions following Operations Rising Lion and Midnight Hammer.

Maxar satellite imagery collected on June 22 shows extensive damage at the Fordow underground nuclear enrichment complex. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
David Albright
Michael Doran
07
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Designating the Polisario Front: A Conversation with Rep. Joe Wilson
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Joe Wilson
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) speaks during a news conference hosted by members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus at the Capitol on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
07
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Designating the Polisario Front: A Conversation with Rep. Joe Wilson

Michael Doran, director of Hudson’s Center for Peace and Security in the Middle East, will host Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for a discussion on the strategic benefits of designating the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) speaks during a news conference hosted by members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus at the Capitol on February 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
Featured Speakers:
Michael Doran
Congressman Joe Wilson
09
July 2025
Virtual Event | Invite Only
Israel’s Economic Resilience after October 7: Navigating War and Strategic Pressures
Featured Speakers:
Noach Hacker
Michael Doran
Getty Images
09
July 2025
Virtual Event | Invite Only
Israel’s Economic Resilience after October 7: Navigating War and Strategic Pressures

Noach Hacker, Israel’s minister of economic affairs, will join Hudson’s Michael Doran for a discussion on how Israel has fortified its economic foundations for moments of extreme crisis. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Noach Hacker
Michael Doran
11
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Han Kuang Exercise and the Taiwanese Military’s Road to Readiness
Featured Speakers:
RADM Mark Montgomery
Brent Sadler
Bryan Clark
Moderator:
Riley Walters
Getty Images
11
July 2025
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
The Han Kuang Exercise and the Taiwanese Military’s Road to Readiness

Hudson’s Riley Walters will discuss what to look for during these exercises and what more Taiwan can do to strengthen its defense posture with a panel of military experts.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
RADM Mark Montgomery
Brent Sadler
Bryan Clark
Moderator:
Riley Walters