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Following your links and looking at Astana, so much comes up in a news search, it certainly is being set up as a security, financial and business hub, I think you have it right.

I am learning a lot of this for the first time, you've gone a lot deeper into the black nobility than (the only other source I've really read on the subject) Coleman.

The history really zeroes in on thoughts I had watching old documentaries on Rome... Surely they had mega wealthy mega powerful business families... where did that wealth go? Simple, as you've pointed out, they mobilised, and went to safe havens... where they had a base, eg London, and could influence locals with their money, and establish rules, institutions and laws to protect their wealth and power...

Thank you for all the links I will be reading up over a few days this weekend to try soak it all up.

I found (among the many news articles) an interesting summation of the situation in Kazakhstan, which certainly makes it sound as if it is ripe to set up a new safe haven for the elites...

"With its enormous natural resources and vast agricultural lands, Kazakhstan is the richest country in Central Asia. But the revenue from its oil and gas is mostly concentrated in the hands of a small circle of elites and hasn't trickled down to ordinary Kazakhs."

https://www.rferl.org/a/poverty-kazakhstan-central-asia-wealthiest-country/32180230.html

The powerful influence is already there, and a population who are hand to mouth just to survive...

The super city capital (with all the symbols of power) of the elites just waiting to be serviced by a compliant (easily exploited) population happy for any rise in living standards?

All the luxury hotel chains have representation in Astana: the Ritz Carlton, Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton etc.

Guess who has a World Economic Forum style meeting every year 🤔

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astana_International_Forum

https://forum-astana.org/en/about/about

https://www.un.org/en/desa/opening-speech-vi-astana-economic-forum-and-world-anti-crisis-conference

this one in particular is worth a quick glance 👇

https://forum-astana.org/en/page/events

"The Astana Economic Forum gathered thousands of businessmen, politicians and investors in Astana for fruitful discussions among expert community and also resulted in signing agreements that will determine the country’s future development."

...Strategic Development Plan until 2025 "National Technology Initiative" ....

The first priority is the growth of labour productivity, technological modernization of the economy and digital modernization" he said.

The second priority is expansion of private sector. This is about "clearing the field" from large companies that do not want to develop and GIVING WAY to companies that are MORE ADAPTED to the current situation.

Another priority is creation of favourable investment CLIMATE. "We are talking not only about the business climate from the viewpoint of direct regulation, we are talking about the quality of institutions, courts, improving legal literacy of the population...

Among other priorities of the document is PERSONAL COMPETITIVENESS of every citizen*

(*Exploitation WEF style)

Reads like a WEF paradise* doesn't it?

(*not a paradise)

Great article thanks Frances, a lot to explore there... Thank you.

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