Defense of the dissertation of Malgazhdarova Meruyert for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the educational program «8D03102 - International Relations»

L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Malgazhdarova Meruyert on the topic «Human rights in the new geopolitical agenda of the EU: tools, risks and prospects for implementation» to the educational program «8D03102 – International Relations».

The dissertation was carried out at the «International Relations education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

The language of defense is russian

Official reviewers:

Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:

Scientific advisors:

Nurdavletova Saniya Moryakovna – Candidate of Historical sciences, Associate professor of the Department of International Relations of the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan)

Tatjana Sekulić – Foreign Scientific Consultant, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor at University of Milano-Bicocca (Milan, Republic of Italy).

The defense will take place on March 31, 2026, at 02:00 PM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D031 – Social sciences» in the educational program «8D03102 – International Relations» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held online.

Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/49802787589901?p=VcOC2OrH3uwvxkSU2j

Address: г. Астана, ул. К. Сатпаева, 2, аудитория №302.

Abstract (English): Abstract: Relevance of the research. In the context of the continuous transformation of the global political and economic system in the 21st century, human rights have established themselves as a universal legal category and simultaneously as an indicator of the democratic development of states, the stability of their institutions, and the level of international trust. The new geopolitical agenda, shaped after 2020 under the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic, growing international competition, and local conflicts, has intensified attention to human rights mechanisms as a key element of “soft power” and a criterion of the legitimacy of state decisions. Special attention is paid to the European Union as a leading global actor in the promotion of human rights, whose institutional practices, standards, and strategies form guidelines for international law and regional politico-legal processes. The EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy for 2020–2027 has consolidated the integration of these standards into the areas of security, digital transformation, ecology, trade, and migration policy, including an expanded thematic dialogue with Central Asian partner states. In this context, the Republic of Kazakhstan is considered as a “field of observation” through which the effectiveness of EU instruments and potential risks of their implementation in countries with different politico-legal systems can be assessed. For Kazakhstan, the human rights agenda has a dual significance. Firstly, it serves as a tool for developing cooperation with the EU, reflected in the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA, 2015) and the regular “EU–Kazakhstan” Human Rights Dialogues. Secondly, the strengthening of national human rights institutions, envisaged in the Further Measures Plan on Human Rights and the Rule of Law, remains relevant for the internal modernization of the justice system, increasing transparency, and accountability of state bodies. Considering these challenges and opportunities, the study of the European human rights protection model and its methodological adaptation to the Kazakhstani context appears timely from both theoretical and applied perspectives. It aims, based on verified facts and internationally recognized methodologies (OHCHR Indicators, UNECE Guidelines, EU Justice Scoreboard), to develop recommendation mechanisms that promote the gradual alignment of Kazakhstan’s national human rights system with European standards while maintaining diplomatic and academically balanced analysis. International human rights institutions, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, as well as the European Parliament in its resolution of 11 February 2021, have pointed out systemic deviations from previously declared international commitments of Kazakhstan in the field of human rights. These assessments indicate the need to revise domestic human rights regulatory mechanisms and strengthen independent monitoring by both national and international structures. Comparison with global indicators further emphasizes the need to improve the national human rights system. According to the 2022 Rule of Law Index, Kazakhstan ranks 106th in state influence on the judicial system, 62nd in perceived corruption, and 100th in protecting individual rights and freedoms (out of 140 countries). These indicators reflect persistent institutional challenges in implementing human rights and justice, despite the presence of a legal framework and development strategies aligned with international standards. The human rights topic in Kazakhstan is increasingly viewed not only as a legal regulatory issue but also as an integral component of sustainable and inclusive development strategy. Violations or limitations in the realization of fundamental rights and freedoms may reduce public trust in state institutions, increase social fragmentation, lower investment attractiveness, and weaken the country’s international standing. Particular importance is attached to ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women, protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, safeguarding freedom of expression and assembly, ensuring proper conditions in places of detention, and addressing social reintegration of migrants and citizens returning from conflict zones. These areas are directly related to the institutional capacity of the state to form a balanced, inclusive, and sustainable model of social order. One of the key directions of the European Union in the field of human rights is the development and implementation of institutional mechanisms aimed at strengthening individual legal protection. These include the institution of the ombudsman, independent monitoring systems, human rights dialogues, standards ensuring access to justice, and formats for civil society participation in policy-making and implementation. The practice of these tools in EU member states demonstrates their effectiveness and adaptability, making them potentially applicable in the context of Kazakhstan. At the same time, implementing such models encounters institutional, normative-legal, and socio-cultural constraints that require interdisciplinary analysis. Thus, the analysis of the EU’s institutional toolkit in human rights protection has both theoretical-conceptual and applied significance. On one hand, it allows understanding the transformation of human rights as an element of the EU’s strategic foreign policy identity amid global instability. On the other hand, it provides a basis for assessing the potential for their implementation in states with a different politico-legal organization, including Kazakhstan. The study aims to develop a balanced approach to modernizing national human rights policy, taking into account international standards, institutional specifics, and relevant geopolitical challenges. Object of the study – the European Union’s human rights policy in the context of the new geopolitical agenda and the transformation of the global order. Subject of the study – the instruments, mechanisms, and normative-legal foundations of EU human rights policy, as well as the conditions, factors, and potential for their adaptation in countries with different politico-legal systems, particularly in Central Asian states, including Kazakhstan. Research objective – to formulate and justify conceptual approaches to assessing the potential and limitations of implementing the EU human rights protection model in the context of the new geopolitical agenda and to identify the conditions under which these standards can be adapted in states with a different politico-legal system (using Kazakhstan as a case study). Research tasks: 1. Conduct a systematic analysis of the EU’s normative and institutional framework in human rights protection, including key documents (EU Charter, European Social Charter, EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy, etc.). 2. Assess the current state of human rights policy in Kazakhstan using relevant international indices (Rule of Law Index, Human Rights Reports) and national strategic documents. 3. Perform a comparative analysis of European and Kazakh models of human rights protection, identifying structural, substantive, and procedural divergences and convergence points. 4. Apply Copenhagen criteria and other EU standards as an analytical framework to evaluate Kazakhstan’s human rights system compliance with European requirements. 5. Identify institutional, politico-legal, and socio-cultural barriers hindering the effective implementation of European human rights standards in Kazakhstan. 6. Develop evidence-based recommendations for adapting and implementing the most effective EU instruments and practices in Kazakhstan’s human rights sphere, considering national specifics and international obligations. Hypothesis The implementation of EU human rights policy under the new geopolitical agenda is constrained by institutional, politico-legal, and socio-cultural factors in countries with different political systems. Adaptive, selective adoption of EU standards and instruments, accounting for national characteristics and the institutional maturity of the state (using Kazakhstan as an example), can enhance the effectiveness of human rights policy, strengthen monitoring institutions, and promote gradual harmonization of national legislation with European norms without direct transplantation of EU models. Scientific novelty The novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive conceptualization and empirical operationalization of the EU human rights strategy in relation to Kazakhstan’s politico-legal system, taking into account its institutional features and national context. In particular: – Introduced the concept of implementation potential as a key criterion for assessing the applicability of external human rights standards under varying institutional and politico-legal contexts. Human rights are considered not only as a universal legal category but also as an instrument of foreign policy legitimacy, soft power, and institutional transformation. – Conducted a detailed structural-functional analysis of EU human rights mechanisms, including soft law tools, monitoring and reporting procedures, dialogue formats, country reports, and the institutional architecture involving EEAS, the EU Council, and the European Parliament, revealing systemic interconnections between norms and mechanisms for foreign policy reproduction. – Developed an original model for assessing Kazakhstan’s human rights practices against EU standards (Copenhagen criteria, Charter of Fundamental Rights, Strategic Plan 2020–2027), including an indicative compliance scale, barrier typology, institutional risk assessment method, and scenario trajectories for legal adaptation. – Formulated applied recommendations for institutional adoption of EU practices, including strengthening the ombudsman institution, developing independent monitoring and reporting mechanisms, institutionalizing civil participation, and implementing ex ante review procedures for draft normative acts for human rights compliance. Key findings for defense 1. Human rights in EU policy are both a universal legal value and an element of foreign policy identity and normative influence, providing a framework for analyzing Kazakhstan’s national human rights modernization. 2. EU human rights policy implementation abroad operates under institutional and geopolitical constraints, justifying adaptive rather than direct adoption of EU standards, considering Kazakhstan’s legal system, institutional structure, and socio-political specificity. 3. Kazakhstan’s human rights system combines normative modernization and institutional features, highlighting the need for stepwise strengthening of mechanisms, including the judiciary, the ombudsman, and independent monitoring tools. 4. Adaptation of European mechanisms to Kazakhstan is possible in a selective format, involving development of the ombudsman, ex ante evaluation of draft laws, expansion of human rights dialogue formats, and strengthening civil society roles in monitoring. 5. Assessing the implementation potential of EU standards requires a comprehensive analytical toolkit, supporting the author’s model to structure institutional risks, normative barriers, and scenarios for aligning Kazakhstan’s human rights policy with European standards within international obligations and strategic partnership frameworks. The conducted study comprehensively assessed the EU human rights policy and its adaptation potential in Kazakhstan. A multidisciplinary approach ensured objectivity and analytical completeness. The analysis showed that the EU model is a dynamic system, whose effectiveness depends on legal norms, institutional development, and interaction with civil society. Comparative-legal analysis revealed Kazakhstan’s potential for modernization through strengthening the ombudsman, normative assessment, and civic participation. The study developed tools for neutral evaluation of international standards and forecasting legal policy. Results emphasize that modernization processes must consider national traditions, social and institutional characteristics, while international cooperation relies on respect and knowledge exchange. The research demonstrates that adapting international models is a multi-stage, sovereign, and institutionally conditioned process. The findings can be applied in science, education, analytics, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s international partnerships.

Dissertation

List of Scientific Works

Consultant's Review

Foreign Consultant's Review

Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee

Official Reviewer's Review

Official Reviewer's Review