According to the survey, 44% of citizens are ready to volunteer during a pandemic.
DEMOSCOPE Bureau of Public Opinion Express Monitoring conducted a survey on the topic: “The Main Social Values of People in Kazakhstan”. In total, from June 25 to July 3, 2021, 1,100 people were interviewed in 14 regions and 3 cities (Nur-Sultan, Almaty, and Shymkent). The survey was conducted in the Kazakh and Russian languages through telephone calls. The survey involved 53% of men and 47% of women over 18. The sample was based on the subscriber base of stationary telephone numbers in Kazakhstan. For this sample, the maximum size of the statistical error with a probability of 95% does not exceed 3%.
According to the World Values Survey, conducted in 2017, the family is the main value for 93.5% of Kazakhstanis. In second place on the list of priorities is work (49.2%).
DEMOSCOPE survey data showed that stability and family are fundamental values of Kazakhstani society. Thus, the most significant for a third of Kazakhstanis are safety and public order (35%), national and family traditions (33%), and education, science and culture (31%).
The list of the most significant priorities included: mutual help and support (24%); social justice and equity; a sense of unity and patriotism (22%); religious and spiritual values; hard work and social responsibility (22%). Success, career and material wealth are the most important for only 14% of the respondents. Survey data show that during the pandemic, safety became a key value of Kazakhstanis, along with family values.
During the period of strict quarantine restrictions in the summer of 2020, when there was an acute shortage of medicines in the country, non-profit public organizations, volunteers, and caring citizens stepped up their work to help people in all regions.
The results of the DEMOSCOPE survey show that the majority of respondents (65%) believe that doctors and healthcare workers made the greatest public contributions during the pandemic. Also, a significant contribution during the pandemic, according to 26% of Kazakhstanis, was made by NGOs, volunteers and caring citizens. 22% of citizens noted the contribution of the state and local authorities. Business was singled out by 6% of the respondents.
It is interesting that mutual assistance as a priority value of Kazakhstanis is manifested in the readiness to become a volunteer during the pandemic. Within the framework, a total of 44% of citizens agreed to act as a volunteer, 12% of them are ready to provide public assistance with only a minimal risk of infection. A quarter of the respondents would disagree, as they fear for their health. Also, the reason for refusal for 16% of respondents was the lack of time. 9% of citizens believe that solving social problems is the function of the state.
As part of the study, it was determined which of the institutions of civil society is the most effective for citizens. A fifth of the respondents named volunteer movements, 16% noted the role of the media, 10% of citizens voted for political parties, 7% chose trade unions, 6% noted the role of NGOs, and 3% of respondents mentioned initiative groups. It should be noted that 40% of survey participants found it difficult to answer this question. This indicates a low awareness of Kazakhstanis about the activities of civil society organizations.
The respondents were also asked to name the reason that hinders the development of civil society in Kazakhstan. A third of the respondents consider economic instability to be the main obstacle to the development of civil society, 22% named insufficient awareness of citizens about the activities of non-profit organizations. The absence of real partnership relations between the state and society and control over the institutions of civil society by the state were noted by 12% and 7%, respectively. 6% believe that the development of the “third sector” is hindered by external propaganda, which presents civil society institutions as a threat to the state.
The results of the DEMOSCOPE survey demonstrate a low awareness of the respondents about the role of civil society institutions, which are the basis for the development of an independent, democratic and sustainable state. In turn, the value orientations of Kazakhstanis – mutual assistance and support, social justice and equality, a sense of unity and patriotism – coincide with the main ideas of civil society.
* The amount in some questions is not equal to 100% as the respondents could choose several options.
The telephone survey was carried out by KT Cloud Lab LLP.
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When using the material, the hyperlink is required. The project is implemented by MediaNet International Centre for Journalism with the support of Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The survey data reflects the point of view of the respondents.
For additional information please contact the project coordinator Snezhana Tsoy: snezhana.tsoy@medianet.kz.