Social Media and Women’s Political Participation in Kazakhstan: Comparative Content Analysis

Abstract

The use of social media in political participation has been widely researched by scholars and political actors since the emergence of social media as a platform for political engagement. This qualitative case study aims to explore the role of social media in women's political participation in Kazakhstan. The study examines the levels of women's political participation during the 2015 and 2019 presidential elections in Kazakhstan through the analysis of diverse digital initiatives related to political debate on social media platforms. A content analysis of social media content from various social media pages and posts on Instagram and Facebook related to the presidential elections, posted by women who are concerned with political issues in Kazakhstan, was conducted in order to identify the reasons behind women's political participation and the role of social media in this endeavour. The study is framed within the civic volunteerism model (CVM), which posits that access to resources that enable and motivate political participation is essential in order to further understand the phenomenon of women's political participation. The research findings indicate that social media plays a significant role in women's political participation in Kazakhstan, as it provides a platform for women to share information, connect with like-minded individuals, and coordinate political action. The study also found that social media has a positive impact on women's political knowledge and awareness, and that women's political participation on social media can lead to increased participation in traditional political activities such as voting and campaigning. However, the study also identified some drawbacks of social media's role in political engagement, such as the potential for misinformation and the manipulation of public opinion. Additionally, the study found that women's political participation on social media is influenced by a variety of factors, such as access to resources, social norms, and political motivations. In general, this study highlights the importance of considering the role of social media in women's political participation and the ways in which it can be leveraged to increase civic engagement and political participation among women. The study also identifies the need for further research on the potential drawbacks of social media's role in political engagement and the ways in which these can be mitigated.