Poll: The most significant events of 2020 are the COVID-19 pandemic and Mazhilis elections, Kazakhstani people say

Almost half of the respondents do not understand the processes of transformation of society and are convinced that their usual way of life will return immediately after the end of the pandemic.

DEMOSCOPE Public Opinion Bureau of Express Monitoring conducted a poll on the topic The Most Significant Events of 2020. In total, from 21 to 25 December 2020, 1,100 people were interviewed in 14 regions and cities of Nur-Sultan, Almaty, Shymkent. The poll was conducted in the Kazakh and Russian languages ​​through telephone calls to landline numbers. The survey involved 53% of men and 47% of women over 18 years old. The sampling was based on the subscriber base of stationary telephone numbers in Kazakhstan. For this sample, the maximum size of the statistical error with a 95% probability does not exceed 3%.

Traditionally, at the end of the year the DEMOSCOPE Bureau conducts a survey to determine the most significant events of the outgoing year. As part of the study, respondents were asked to choose the most significant events in political and public life. The results of the study showed that Kazakhstanis consider priority events related directly to Kazakhstan. Global events did not take much attention in among Kazakhstani people.

According to the DEMOSCOPE poll, the majority of citizens (39%) consider the upcoming elections of deputies to the Majilis to be the most important political event of this year. Second in importance (15%) were provocative statements by Russian politicians about the disputed ownership of the territories of Kazakhstan. The war in Nagorno-Karabakh seemed the most significant period for 12% of the survey participants and became the third most important event of the year.

The elections of the US and Belarus presidents as well as the incessant protests in Belarus gained 7% and 6% respectively.

But the presidential elections in neighboring Kyrgyzstan did not arouse much interest among Kazakhstanis, there were only 2% of such responds. The poisoning of Navalny was in last place in terms of importance (1%).

But the presidential elections in neighboring Kyrgyzstan did not arouse much interest among Kazakhstanis (2%). The poisoning of Navalny was in last place in terms of importance, with only 1% of the survey participants named it.

Besides, during the DEMOSCOPE poll, respondents were asked to choose the most positive event of 2020. More than a third of Kazakhstanis (37%) consider the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War to be significant. Almost a third – 28% – chose the production of COVID-19 vaccines and an early mass vaccination of Kazakhstanis.

20% of respondents consider the most significant date great Kazakh enlightener Abay Kunanbayuly’s 175th anniversary of the birth. The 25th anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan date was chosen by only 8% of the participants.

In the rating of the most negative events of the year, according to the absolute majority of Kazakhstanis (55%), the global pandemic is in the lead. The anti-rating also includes restrictions related to the pandemic – distance education (17%), strict quarantine and self-isolation (11%).

The respondents were asked to choose the most desirable event of the New 2021. As expected, the majority of Kazakhstanis (42%) dream about the early end to the pandemic. 21% of citizens hope to improve their living standards in the new year. 17% of respondents expect their children to return to schools and universities. The opening of all borders and the possibility of travel is the wish for 14% of Kazakhstanis.

An important indicator is the transformation processes of Kazakhstani society, caused by the global trends of the outgoing year.

The results of the DEMOSCOPE poll showed that almost half of Kazakhstanis do not realize or do not want to see the processes of transformation of Kazakhstani society. They are convinced that the usual rhythm of life will return immediately after the end of the pandemic. Almost a third of the respondents – 29%, on the contrary, believe that the way of life of Kazakhstanis has changed very much and will not be the same.

According to 22% of the respondents, the public consciousness of Kazakhstanis has changed insignificantly. Probably the unwillingness of Kazakhstanis to accept the changes and comply with the necessary restrictions is due to the excessive importance of preserving traditions and customs. This is confirmed by the facts of violations during the quarantine and the holding of mass family events. For many Kazakhstanis, the risk of offending relatives turned out to be worse than coronavirus infection.

The telephone survey was carried out by KT Cloud Lab LLP contact center.

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The project is implemented by MediaNet International Centre for Journalism with the support of Konrad Adenauer Foundation Office in Kazakhstan.

The survey data reflect the views of respondents.

Additional information: Snezhana Tsoy, snezhana.tsoy@medianet.kz.

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