Evolving Political Cultures in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan: Trends and New Paradigms


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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1914

Keywords:

Central Asia, civic engagement, civil society, democracy, institutionalism, media communication, political participation

Abstract

In the 21st century, new means of information and communication technologies have become an important tool for many countries in terms of expanding political rights and freedoms, forming a rule-of-law state, and achieving the ideals of a democratic society. The paper aims to study trends and carry out a qualitative assessment of the interdependence of the media and social platforms and political culture of citizens of three Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. This work aims to fill the existing theoretical gap regarding the issues of mutual influence of political culture and media in the states above. The study reveals the factors of public political participation in the three countries examined through the prism of comparing indicators of public participation in political processes in the context of the development and emergence of new types of media and social network platforms. The paper analyses the essential features of each country’s development of democratic institutions and civil dialogue, considering the role of traditional media and social networks as implementation tools. Based on the experience of the three countries examined, the results of the study give reason to say that the media (including social networks and media platforms) do not have a decisive influence on the formation of political culture. Transformation processes in the sphere above of these countries are fragmentary, affecting to a greater extent issues of individual perception of political processes, as a rule, without significant external manifestation. The findings of the study provide grounds to assert that the theoretical comprehension of political culture in the examined countries is scarcely distinguishable from the concept of political awareness.

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Author Biographies

Aigerim Serikzhanova, Department of Political Science, Eurasian National University,

Aigerim Serikzhanova is Assistant Master of Laws, PhD candidate, Department of Political Science, Eurasian National University, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan. She is a Deputy Director of the Research Center "Youth". Currently, she is the scientific director of the project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: IRN AP14972304. Main research interests: theory of political systems, domestic politics, political systems of developing countries, democracy, gender equality.

Roza Nurtazina, Department of Political Science, Eurasian National University

Roza Nurtazina is Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor of Department of Political Science, Eurasian National University, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan. Currently, she is a scientific consultant for the grant funding project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for postdoctoral studies “Zhas Galym” AP14972304. Main scientific interests: geopolitics and national interests, socio-political processes of the Republic of Kazakhstan, national security, media and politics, political communication, methodology of political research, global processes and world politics. E-Mail: roza-nurtazina@rambler.ru

Inabat Serikzhanova, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Philipps University Marburg

Inabat Serikzhanova is MA Peace and Conflict studies, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Philipps University Marburg, Frankfurt, Germany. She is an International Project Management Coordinator with specialization in development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and monitoring and evaluation (M&E), with expertise in Southeast Asia and the former Soviet Union. She is an expert specializing in gender equality and social development, with extensive experience in writing assessment reports with specific recommendations for further project development and in conducting research to identify needs and problems in developing countries. E-Mail: serikzhanova6709@gmx.com

Bolat Bukharbay, Faculty of Law & Social Science, Suleyman Demirel University

Bolat Bukharbay is Master in Management, Faculty of Law & Social Science, Suleyman Demirel University, Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan. He is a PhD candidate, Head of PR service of Kazpost JSC, President of the National Debate Federation. Main research interests: media and politics, political communication, domestic politics, political systems of developing countries, democracy. E-Mail: bbukharbay568@rambler.ru

Binur Taitorina, Department of Medical Law, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov

Binur Taitorina is Doctor of Legal Sciences, Professor of Department of Medical Law, Kazakh National Medical University named after S.D. Asfendiyarov, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan. Currently, she is the executor of the project of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: IRN AP14870745. Main research interests: current problems of general theory of law; problems of the theory of separation of powers; constitutional and legal problems of state control; issues of legal regulation of public administration/management; problems of international law. E-Mail: taitorina_bi34@rambler.ru

 

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Published

2024-07-30

How to Cite

Serikzhanova, A. ., Nurtazina, R. ., Serikzhanova, I. ., Bukharbay, B. ., & Taitorina, B. (2024). Evolving Political Cultures in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan: Trends and New Paradigms. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, 11(3), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/1914

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Original Manuscript
Received 2023-11-15
Accepted 2024-05-05
Published 2024-07-30