CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THROUGH THE LENS OF WOMEN IN KAZAKHSTAN’S ELECTORAL PROCESSES

Abstract

This study analyzes the impact of electoral system reforms on the level of civic engagement in Kazakhstan in the context of political transformations initiated after the 2019 power transition. The analysis is grounded in the theoretical framework of participatory democracy, which views broader citizen involvement as a prerequisite for enhancing the legitimacy and accountability of political institutions. Special attention is given to gender stratification within the electoral system and its influence on political representation. The case of Kazakhstan is explored within the broader context of post-Soviet transitional societies, where electoral reforms play a key role in the institutionalization of democratic norms. The applied methodology has a universal character and can be adapted to studies of similar processes in countries with comparable political conditions.

Keywords: democracy; elections; civic engagement; gender quotas; process; development; participation.