“Remarkably, Astana has gained more Internet acclaim for its reputation as an alleged command centre of global Freemasonry than it has for being a modern civic utopia built from scratch on the unremitting steppe. Its futuristic architecture and extraordinary feats of engineering – including its giant glass pyramid, the world’s largest tent, and an enormous aluminum spaceship – have led misinformed pundits to reach the same ominous conclusion: Freemasonry must be behind it.