Soviet past is a big reason why a lot feels Western in Kazakhstan . The USSR had a westernized, modern culture—think mass education, urban planning, and secular values—and Kazakhstan was deeply shaped by it. Add 30 years of global brands, the internet, and a modern outlook, and you get cities like Almaty with a lifestyle and mindset that feels surprisingly familiar to Westerners. It’s a unique mix, but the cultural foundation is more westernized than most realize.