POLITICAL OF PARTICIPATION POTENTIAL IN KAZAKHSTAN: DECREASE OR ADJUSTMENT

Abstract

This article presents the findings of the authors’ study on political participation in Kazakhstan focusing on resentiments and protest attitude amid the socio-economic crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to the events of January 2022. The article aims to identify changes in acute social and political behavior with prticular attention being paid to conventional and unconventional forms of participation, as well as traditional and new types of activism.

The literature review provides valuable insights into the theories of political participation and helps identify the key types and features highlighted by both foreign and domestic researchers. The article includes a comparative analysis of data collected from the quantitative surveys in 2021 and 2024 revealing the preferences and prevalence of various forms of political participation. Additionally, focus group discussions held in Kazakhstan’s regions offer important insight into the main sources of political information, the characteristics of digital engagement and communication channels with government authorities.

Thus, the article focuses on the dynamics of the most prevalent forms of political participation in Kazakhstan, the preferences of different social groups, and provides an explanation of these changes, along with an analyzes their potential impact.